GAME NOTES
ALVA, Okla. – After a long four weeks of fall camp, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University football team kicks off the 2018 campaign Thursday evening when the Rangers host No. 24 Ouachita Baptist at Ranger Field at 6 p.m.
The Tigers enter the season with a target on their backs after winning the Great American Conference title in 2017. Ouachita's success last season led to a preseason ranking in three national polls, including No. 24 in the D2Football.com poll and No. 25 by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Last season, the Rangers traveled to Arkadelphia, Ark., and came up just short as they fell to the Tigers in a 31-28 decision. Returning starting quarterback Isaiah Weed completed 19 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the close loss.
However, Northwestern was without its standout linebacker Maurice Wright Jr. in the 2017 opener against the Tigers. Wright led the GAC with 104 tackles helping him to an All-GAC First Team selection, as well as a Second Team honor on the D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 3 team.
Joining Wright on the GAC First Team was cornerback Aharon Barnes. The senior had three interceptions and a forced fumble last season to go along with 55 tackles. Wide receiver and return specialist Horatio Smith, who finished second in the league with 1,537 all-purpose yards, was named to the All-GAC Second Team in 2017.
While the Tigers were one of the top offensive teams in the conference last season, they are very inexperienced at quarterback as redshirt freshman Brayden Brazeal takes the reins of the Tigers offense to start the season.
Ouachita Baptist leads the all-time series against the Rangers, 7-3, and each team has won two game apiece at Ranger Field. A win over the Tigers would hand the visitors their first loss in a season opener since the 2006 season, and snap their eight game regular season road win streak.
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