ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State had the final home game of the 2024 season against the Henderson State Reddies. The Reddies scored first before taking a halftime lead and closing out the 44-10 victory over the Rangers.

Henderson State improves to 7-2 on the season as the Rangers drop to 2-7 on the year after the loss. 

Caleb Deal led the team in passing with 96 passing yards including an 84 yard connection to Travis Romar for the one touchdown. Darien Gill finished with a team high 46 rushing yards, while Romar had 84 yards.

Coby Tillman led the team with 13 tackles on the afternoon with 3 solo and 10 assists including two for a tackle for a loss. 

To start the game the two teams traded punts, before Henderson State was able to strike first on their next possession of the game. The drive started with a 40 yard rush gaining a first down before a 12 yard pass put Henderson State in the red zone. Four plays later, a two yard rushing touchdown pushed Henderson State in front 7-0. After a couple more punts the teams traded the Reddies continued to lead 7-0 through the opening quarter of play. 

Henderson State drove to close the quarter though capitalized early in the second with a field goal to close out the drive with a 33 yard attempt to push the visitors lead to 10-0.

About halfway through the second quarter Henderson State got the ball back and used a 19 yard play and a 20 yard play to set up a five yard touchdown pass to take a 16-0 lead over the Rangers after the missed extra point attempt. 

Rangers special teams came up with a big play to set up points right before the half for the Rangers as a muffed punt recovered by Cade Reynolds helped set up a 25 yard field goal by Kale Purvis as the Rangers went into the locker room trailing 16-3. 

The Reddies were the first to score in the second half as a 15 yard pass followed by a 36 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Edwards to Micah Greene had the Reddies in front 23-3. The score remained that way until the five minute mark of third quarter following a 41 yard touchdown run by Jalen Abraham for a 30-3 lead over the Rangers.

The Rangers answered back with a touchdown by the Reddies as the score was 37-3 following a four yard rush by Darien Gill. Caleb Deal connected with Travis Romar with an explosive play on a deep ball going for an 84 yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter. The Ranges trailed 37-10 following the extra point. 

After the teams traded punts the Rangers defense picked up a turnover as a Henderson State fumble recovered by Eric Hughes put the Rangers in Henderson State territory. After a four play drive a connection from Deal to Chase Davidson fell just short for a turnover on downs. 

Henderson State added one more score to take a 44-10 lead over the Rangers before closing out the victory over Northwestern. 

The Rangers travel to Southern Arkansas on November 9th for the next game for one of two final road games on the season.