By RYAN SHUMAKER, Student Reporter
Northwestern Oklahoma State University traveled to Russellville, Arkansas, to take on the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech, and it turned out to be a great one, but one in which the Rangers came up short 41-35.
Reid Miller continued his brilliant senior season on Oct. 29, throwing three touchdowns and passing for 344 yards. Jacob Peyton was the lead rusher for the Ranger offense as he carried the rock 20 times for 74 total yards and a score.
In his first game back from injury, Horatio Smith had a big day, catching nine passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Although, he didn’t cross the goal line in the game. Tamarick Courtney led the team in yards receiving as he caught two passes for 98 yards with 64 being the long reception on the day.
For the third straight game, Maurice Wright Jr. was the lead tackler for the Rangers as he collected 10 on the afternoon. He also came up with a forced fumble in the process. Senior defensive back, Jordan Norris was also solid defensively, picking off two passes in the game and taking one back for the score, which was a huge play in a key time.
Both teams were sound defensively in the first quarter as it actually came to a close scoreless, but Arkansas Tech drove the ball 86 yards down the field on the first drive of the second to make the score 7-0.
They put one more score on the board before halftime, making it 14-0, but immediately out of the break on their first possession, the Wonder Boys put another score on the board on a 49 yard pass to the end zone.
Later on in the third quarter, Northwestern found the scoreboard, and they would find it often later on. For the second time in the ballgame, ATU went up by 21 points, but the Rangers came back with a vengeance. The third finished with the visitors making it a 14-point game at 28-14, and it only became more interesting from there.
After one more Tech score, Northwestern went on a 21-point run to tie it up at 35 all. Unfortunately for the Rangers, the tie didn’t last too long as the Wonder Boys drove down the field and crossed the goal line in just four plays.
With 4:21 on the play clock, Northwestern mounted their final try at a comeback. Beginning at their own 30 yard line, the Rangers drove 34 yards and reached as far as the 18 yard line, before a holding penalty, two attempts at the endzone and a sack ultimately ended the game for the Rangers in heartbreaking fashion, 41-35.
Miller once again erased former records and now has the all-time TD’s record at Northwestern as he surpassed Kyle Jech who held the record for four years.
Reid now has 72 passing touchdowns in his illustrious career, two more now than the previous holder, Jech.
Northwestern will kick-off the next game at 2 p.m. on Saturday, where they will be hosting Harding University. It will be the last home game for 22 Ranger seniors.