Shawnee, Okla.-  Northwestern Oklahoma State football traveled to Shawnee, Oklahoma on Saturday evening for the third game of the season. The Bison took advantage of a solid second-quarter out, scoring the Rangers 28-14 in the quarter before winning 56-42 Saturday night. 

The win moves Oklahoma Baptist to 2-1 on the season as the Rangers fall to 0-3 in the 2021 season. 

Quarterback Tanner Clarkson led Northwestern on offense as he threw for 413 yards along with three touchdowns and a QBR of 148. Calion Baker ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Torrence Stevens finished with 142 yards and a touchdown.

Rangers finished with three players leading the team with six tackles in James Ellis, Brian Holiday; Terry Atta-Peters finished with six tackles.

The Rangers opened the game with the ball, with a six-play drive before the Bison took over following a punt. OBU opened the scoring in the game with a 32-yard rushing touchdown to the left side; following the extra point, it was 7-0. Clarkson would complete seven straight passes on the next drive for Northwestern, getting down to the 1-yard line before Baker would punch it in for the one-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven.  The teams would trade punts to conclude the first quarter, all tied at seven. 

Oklahoma Baptist would take the ball at the beginning of the second quarter. They would open with a sustained nine-play drive driving 80 yards before finding the end zone to take the lead back and go up 14-7 over the Rangers. The Red-and-Black would answer back, though following a 33-yard pass from Clarkson to Gavin Garner. Northwestern followed that up with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Stevens to tie the game at 14 following the Connor O'Neal extra point. OBU would answer right away, though, running back the kickoff for a Bison touchdown to go up 21-14. The home team would force the Ranger to punt and go on an 11 play drive before finishing the drive on a passing touchdown to go up 35-21 going into halftime. 

After receiving the opening kick, Oklahoma Baptist carried an eight-play drive before rushing in for a touchdown to push their lead to 42-21 early in the 3rd quarter. However, Northwestern's offense would answer back with a sustainable eight-play drive ending in a Clarkson four-yard touchdown rush, bringing the Rangers back within 14 in the game. Following an Oklahoma Baptist touchdown, the Bison and the Rangers would trade punts from there to close out the third quarter. Northwestern would trail 49-27 after three-quarters of play. 

In the fourth quarter, the Rangers would attempt to pull off the comeback. Northwestern would score in the opening seconds of the quarter to go down two possessions following a 31-yard touchdown to Garner. OBU would counter back with a score, though to trade points in the final quarter. Northwestern's final touchdown came on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Romello Bentley for his first touchdown of the season. The Red-and Black would go and complete the two-point conversion attempt was good to Garner as the Rangers would trail 56-42. The Bison would whined out the clock to hold onto beat the Rangers 56-42. 

Northwestern will return home Saturday, September 25th, for Family Day. It will be their fourth game of the season as they take on the Tigers of East Central on Ranger Field at 6:00 PM.