Box Score

The Basics
Score: Northwestern 14 – Southern Arkansas 33
Records: Northwestern (1-1, 1-1 GAC) – Southern Arkansas (2-0, 2-0 GAC)
Location: Wilkins Stadium - MAGNOLIA, Ark.
 
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Northwestern Oklahoma State traveled to Magnolia, Ark. for a battle with Southern Arkansas, Saturday evening and came away with a tough 33-14 loss.

Individual Leaders

• Anthony Cota was the catalyst for the Ranger running game on the night, rushing for 67 total yards on 12 carries for an average of 5.6 yards per carry. The longest run on the evening for Cota as well as Northwestern was a 39 yard scamper that actually reached the endzone, but was later called back and mostly negated by a Ranger holding penalty.  
• Reid Miller had a tough evening, throwing for just 206 yards and one touchdown. He also threw one pick and had two fumbles ripped away from him.
• Riley Hess was the lead target for Miller on the night, catching the one touchdown pass and collected 45 yards on five targets.
• The other touchdown came on a kickoff return by Jarion Tudman who took the return 94 yards to the house with just under seven minutes left to play.

Game Changer

• Only minutes into the game, a Ranger fumble fell into the hands of the Muleriders and they were able to come away with a field goal to start the scoring for both teams.
• The very next drive however saw the Black-and-Red take over the lead for the first time against SAU in the past four seasons as Riley Hess caught his third touchdown of the season, making it eight total now for Quarterback, Reid Miller.
• The Muleriders would finish off the first half with the momentum however as they would rattle off 17 unanswered points.
• On one of his four field goals on the night, SAU kicker Bradford Grems made the score 23-7 with 7:38 to go in the third.
• Just one play into the fourth quarter, the Muleriders tacked on another touchdown, making the score 30-7 in favor of the home team.
• The hosts would kick one more field goal before their offensive night was finished, making it a 33-7 ballgame with 7:14 left to play.
• Northwestern's Tudman would find the endzone however for the final time as he was able to dodge and weave his way into the endzone, following a 94 yard kickoff return, but it would unfortunately be the end of the scoring for the Rangers, ending the contest in 33-14 defeat.

News & Notes

• The kickoff return for a TD by Tudman was the first by a Ranger since 2012, when Jared Jackson took one back 100 yards against Air Force JV.
• The Muleriders have had the Rangers' number since joining the same league back in 2012 and the Rangers' last victory over SAU is 1978 when Northwestern took care of business in 18-0 fashion.

Up Next
Northwestern will take the road next weekend for the second straight contest where they will take on Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark.
 
For the latest information on Ranger Football, follow @NWOSUAthletics on Twitter or go to www.riderangersride.com.