By GARY POWELL, 1973 Northwestern News Sports Editor
This week, I’m sure everybody knows by now, is Homecoming week for the Rangers, who will host Southeastern State College.
Southeastern lost to Langston last week by the score of 22-0 in a hard-fought physical type of contest. The Bulldogs run out of a power I formation with the up back some seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, where he can pick his own holes. The runner to stop this week will be Levon Hicks, who by himself last year tore the Rangers apart with his running. The Savages are not a throwing team but in the Langston contest, trailing as they were, the Savages were forced to go to the air. When they go by way of the air, it will fly in the direction of Charles Gulley, who has good speed.
On defense they are a hard-hitting team that shows a lot of pride.
This week’s homecoming game should be a hard-hitting and exciting game, as both the Rangers and the Savages are matched up about even straight across. If the Rangers can cut down on mistakes that have been so costly to them in past games, they should give the Savages all they want.
As of late, the Ranger defense has played good aggressive ball, allowing only one touchdown in the past six quarters. On offense, the Ranges are still having some trouble mounting a consistent, ball-controlling game, but have controlled the ball at times.
Sears Woods put together a good game at Goodwell last week, rushing for 71 yards, so he seems to be back in running form. The Rangers’ kicking game is improving with Blaine Easter averaging about 38 to 39 yards per boot the past two games.
What I am trying to say is that the Rangers are improving game after game, and they are not far from putting it all together.
Let’s hope they do put it together this weekend when Southern rolls in. Game time will be 8 p.m.