Alva, Okla- The Northwestern Rangers Football team faced off against the Muleriders out of Southern Arkansas. This is the first football game of the 2021 season and the first home game. The game was played at the Rangers Football field under the lights Thursday evening.

Northwestern's defense was led by James Ellis with 11 tackles on the evening, followed by Bryce Mack with nine tackles. 

Gavin Garner led all Rangers receivers with 101 yards, while Nathaniel Briscoe was close behind with 88 yards for the Rangers.  

It did not take long for either team to get on the board early in the game as the Muleriders would settle for an opening drive field goal after the Rangers defense forced an incomplete pass on third down. 

The Rangers would answer back with a field goal of their own after a solid opening game drive led by Clarkson. 

After the defenses continued to battle in the opening quarter, the Red-and-Black would hold the Muleriders to another field goal bringing the game to 6-3. Southern Arkansas would find the endzone first with an early second-quarter touchdown; however, a field two-point conversion would put the score at 12-3. 

After the early quarter touchdown, he half would stay that way after the team would battle. The Muleriders would force multiple sacks to Clarkson. 

At the half, the Rangers were battling against the Muleriders to keep the game close with a score of 12-3.

The Red-and-Black opened the second half with the ball but would be forced to punt on the opening second-half drive. Southern Arkansas capitalized on this, turning the punt into a touchdown on a seven-play drive to open a 19-3 lead in the third quarter. 

Northwestern would follow with a long sustained drive that would end in points for the Red-and-Black on Conner O'Neal's second field goal of the evening. The score would stay 19-6 to end the quarter.

Starting quarterback Tanner Clarkson would connect with Torrence Stevens for a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second half for 45 of his 413 yards in the game.

Southern Arkansas would answer back with another touchdown to bring the game to 32-13, which would be the final score of the Thursday opener. 

Next week, the Rangers will have their first road game as they play back-to-back road games traveling to Henderson State next weekend, followed by Oklahoma Baptist.