By Megan Maharry
Sports Editor
The Ranger football team took the long route to Magnolia, Arkansas to face No. 19 Southern Arkansas. 4-0 on the season, the nationally ranked Muleriders proved a tough opponent to the black and red. The Rangers fell 27-14.
With a stellar defensive performance on the night, the Rangers had opportunities to take down Southern Arkansas, but turnovers ended up coming back to haunt the Rangers in the end.
The Rangers recorded four turnovers, including two fumbles and two interceptions.
The Ranger’s defense in the red zone was highly effective, as they kept the Muleriders out of the endzone on seven different times and forced two field goals.
Redshirt junior Aharon Barnes picked off a pass in the endzone late in the fourth quarter.
The defense forced a turnover on downs in the second quarter late in the fourth.
The hotshot linebackers Dakota Driskill, Maurice Wright Jr. and Kyler Ferguson kept the Muleriders on their heels as they each had huge tackles for the Rangers.
Driskill lead the way with 15 tackles, six of which were solo, and a tackle for loss of yards.
Wright ended the game with 14 and Ferguson had 10.
The Northwestern defense held SAU to its second lowest offensive output of the season and kept quarterback Barrett Renner well below his season average in passing yards.
Senior Jimmie Pace had two sacks on the night.
The Muleriders struck first after they intercepted Isaiah Weed’s pass and returned it for a touchdown, making it an early 7-0 lead.
On the next Mulerider possession, however, Erick Cook grabbed the interception for the Rangers in SAU territory.
Weed then found receiver Gavin Garner for 31 yards on the three-yard line.
Knocking on the endzone door, freshman running back Tyson Gatewood ran into the endzone to record his first touchdown of the year.
Throughout the second quarter it remained quiet as no team could get into the endzone. It wasn’t until the third quarter when the Muleriders added a touchdown and a field goal.
The Rangers were unable to score again until the fourth on a 74-yard pass from Weed to Garner for the touchdown. By then, the Muleriders tacked on another touchdown and field goal to seal the 27-14 victory.
Garner finished the game with 127 yards on four catches and Weed completed nine passes for 151 yards.
As the Rangers drop 1-3 on the season, they return to action against Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.