ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State football hosted Oklahoma Baptist Saturday afternoon for game eight of the season. The Rangers jumped on the board first and never lost the lead holding on to a 30-28 victory over the Bison Saturday.
The Rangers are now 2-6 following the win as Oklahoma Baptist falls to 2-6 on the season.
Brodey Johnson led the Rangers with 181 yards and a passing touchdown, as Darien Gill finished with 68 rushing yards and a touchdown. Travis Romar caught the Rangers touchdown while adding 60 yard receiving.
Cameron Lee and Coby Tillman each led the Rangers with eight tackles while Tillman had two tackles for losses. Wilson Cal had an interception run back for a touchdown.
The two teams traded punts to start the game after a very defensive opening quarter the game remained 0-0 as the Rangers began to drive toward the end of the first quarter. Continuing a 10 play 42 yard drive into the second quarter.
Oklahoma Baptist's defense held the Rangers to a field goal as Kale Purvis hit a 42-yard field goal giving the Rangers a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter. Northwestern's defense continued the momentum for the Rangers after Myles Mayes ended the Bison drive with an interception on the OBU 41. The Rangers capitalized on this turnover as Brodey Johnson turned the turnover into an 18 yard touchdown pass to Travis Romar for a 10-0 Ranger lead.
After the Ranger defense forced another punt, the offense went seven plays for 42 yards before Kale Purvis hit his second field goal of the game, this time a 44 yard field goal for a 13-0 lead. Oklahoma Baptist answered with their first touchdown of the game on an EJ Moore touchdown run to cut the Ranger lead down to 13-7.
The score remained 13-7 heading into halftime as the Rangers continued to lead.
Northwestern in the third quarter traded punts in the early going of the second half before Northwestern capitalized on a 11 play 42 yard drive to push the lead back to two possessions.After a 20-yard play from Johnson to Mark Zamora getting to the Oklahoma Baptist 16 yard line Kale Purvis converted his third field goal of the afternoon to make it a 16-7 game.
The Rangers continued to hold a nine point advantage into the fourth quarter as the Rangers were driving at the end of the quarter before scoring two plays into the fourth on a rushing touchdown by Darien Gill for the 23-7 lead. Oklahoma Baptist answered back with a 32 yard touchdown pass to Darius Melton before converting the 2-point conversion for a 23-15 lead the Rangers lead was down to one score.
Oklahoma Baptist, looking to tie the game after forcing a Rangers punt, was driving down just inside of Ranger territory before Wilson Cal put an end to the drive with a 55 yard interception touchdown return pick six for the 30-15 Rangers lead.
Oklahoma Baptist used eight plays to go 60 yards and cut the Ranger lead back down to eight after a 38 yard completion set up a four yard touchdown pass for a 30-22 Rangers lead. The Bison added one more score with a minute left in the game on a 16 yard touchdown completion. Looking to even the score on the 2-point try the Rangers defense came up with the stop to seal the 30-28 victory over the Bison.
Northwestern will return to action on Saturday afternoon against Henderson State for the final home game of the season for the 2024 senior day as well. Kickoff scheduled for 2:00 PM.
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