ALVA, Okla. - Northwestern Oklahoma State played host to Southern Arkansas this evening and came away with one of the biggest victories in recent memory. The win broke the previous five-game losing streak to the Southern Arkansas Muleriders.

Before this evening, SAU had Northwestern's number as the Rangers had not beaten the Muleriders in five of the previous tries. Before the series truly restarted in 2013, the Rangers had not had a victory in the series since 1978, where they won, 18-0 in Magnolia, Ark.

For the second straight week, the Rangers were able to really push the running game, rushing for a team total of 199 yards, led by Jacob Peyton who carried the rock for 66 yards. Just behind him in yards was fellow running back, Anthony Cota who rushed for 63 and a score. Peyton and Isaiah Weed also ran for touchdowns on the evening.

Weed also threw for 169 total yards with a touchdown. In the ballgame, there were eight different receivers that were tagged with yardage with Horatio Smith leading the way in the category with 64 yards. Andrew Yates finished with 21 yards and perhaps his biggest play was the 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

The defense was tenacious this evening and really controlled the entire game as the three-headed monster at safety of Shane Collins, Doc Harvey and Trey Merritt all getting in on the interception action, picking off SAU QB, Barrett Renner three times.

Leading the way in tackles in the win were Dakota Driskill and Devin Peyton with nine and eight respectively. They were also each credited with tackles for loss as they both had one.

The home team started off the game with a bang as they pulled off a stop  and proceeded to take the ball 80 yards down the field to take it to the house on a Weed four-yard scamper. Tacking on the extra point was Zave Goodrich, making it an early 7-0 lead.

Both defenses held strong for the remainder of the quarter and well into the second as the Rangers were on the scoring end again, going up 14-0 on the preseason no. 1 opponents.

With 1:08 to play in the first half, Northwestern took a commanding 21-point lead on a huge 30-yard rushing TD by Cota.

SAU was finally able to get on the board at the conclusion of the half, where kicker, Grems put one through the uprights from 43 yards out to make it an 18-point deficit going into the break at 21-3.

Starting out the third period on their first drive starting at the 11:31 mark, the Muleriders took it 64 yards down the field for the score, making it 21-9 in favor of the hosts. The very next drive however, Northwestern gained the momentum right back when Weed made a tremendous pass to Andrew Yates for the six-yard touchdown.

The 28-9 lead lasted through the end of the third quarter and more as the visitors wouldn't score until the 9:05 mark of the 4th, but it would be way too little, way too late as a field goal and another TD would be tacked on by the Rangers, to complete the dominant win over the Muleriders.