By OAKLEE FIELDER
The Ranger football lost to Southern Arkansas this weekend after a final score of 30-27 on Saturday in Magnolia, Arkansas.
The loss adds onto the Rangers’ losing streak and gives them a winless record, 0-5. With this loss, the Rangers are the only winless team in the Great American Conference and puts them at the bottom of the standings.
Quickly, the Rangers fell behind the Muleriders after Southern Arkansas scored a touchdown just two minutes into the game. The Rangers were unable to score on their next drives, going three and out on them both. With two minutes left in the first quarter, the Muleriders scored another touchdown to make it 14-0.
At the start of quarter two, the Rangers had one play and made seven yards until it was fumbled by Bailee Davenport. Southern Arkansas recovered the fumble and earned possession just seven seconds into the second quarter. The Muleriders made it down to the 19-yard line before they were stopped by the Ranger defense. On fourth down, Southern Arkansas went for it, and the Northwestern Defense stopped them. This turnover gave the Rangers momentum into their next drive. With that momentum, Northwestern charged down the field from their 18-yard line. On a second and two on the 9-yard line, Jacob Jones made a short pass to Henry Wilson who ran it into the endzone to put points on the board for the Rangers.
After the Ranger touchdown, Southern Arkansas scored two touchdowns, making it 21-7. The Rangers had the ball on their 32-yard line with five minutes left in the second quarter. The Rangers drove down the field with a pass from Jones to Davenport for 42 yards and short gains. The Rangers’ eight play, 68-yard drive ended with a touchdown from Ezequiel Luna. Kash Shipley went to kick the extra point but it was blocked by a Mulerider. The Southern Arkansas defense scooped up the ball and scored on the other side of the field, giving them two points for a recovered PAT.
It didn’t take long for the Rangers to score in the second half. On their first drive, the Rangers charged down the field, making up 71 yards into the endzone, scoring a touchdown with a pass from Jones to Wilson to make it a 10-point game.
After the Northwestern defense stopped the Muleriders quickly, the Rangers received a punt and went back on the offense on their seven-yard line. The Northwestern offense went to business and knocked down all 93 yards they needed to go. With two minutes left in the third quarter, the Jones made a pass to Brody Williams. Williams made the 24-yard throw in the endzone and scored a touchdown. Shipley’s extra point kick was good and it was a 3-point game heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter started slow, with neither team earning many yards and unable to score any points. With nine minutes on the clock, the Muleriders took their time going down the field as they had the lead and did not want to risk anything. Their slow drive eventually made it to the redzone. They made it as far as the one-yard line. On a fourth down and one yard to the touchdown, Southern Arkansas attempted to squeak into the endzone. The Ranger defense stopped them, and gave the Northwestern offense the ball.
The offense didn’t make it far, and with one minute on the clock, tried to get out of their far side of the field. On a third and 17, Jones went to make a pass, but it was intercepted and that ended the game.
Jones threw for 322 yards and had three touchdowns. Jones made 74% of his throws, but was intercepted twice. Jayce Morgan had the most rushing carries with 22. Morgan had 62 yards and didn’t lose a single yard. Koda Bridges and Royal Kyle did well in the receiving end of the game. Bridges had 7- yards and eight receptions. Kyle had five receptions and made 64 yards. Wilson had two touchdowns and 58 yards.
Wyatt Potter had 11 tackles, five solo and six assisted. Jayden Page had nine tackles, two solo and seven assisted. Aiden Lewis had nine tackles, four solo and five assisted, and had one tackle for loss.
This week is homecoming, and the Rangers are set to face the undefeated Henderson State University Reddies. Henderson State sits with Harding University at the top of the GAC standings.