Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State hosted the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma State this weekend on Homecoming and came away with a really tough 30-27 loss.

The Rangers were once again dominant on the ground game where they took it to the Savage Storm for 269 yards, led by junior running back Anthony Cota, who carried the rock for 117 yards and two scores. Cota was followed up by Isaiah Weed who rushed for 73 total yards and also threw for 174 on the day.

The defense had a rocky start, but really picked up play in the second and were led by sophomore linebacker Maurice Wright Jr., who recorded 14 and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Getting the scoring started early was SOSU who put a score on the board with 3:57 to go in the first quarter on a pass to tight end McElroy, making it 6-0 with the point after putting the early lead at 7-0.

It only took 1:37 to give the ball back to the Storm and just two minutes into the second quarter, they put another seven points on the board to put the deficit at 14.

On the very next drive for the Rangers, the hosts were able to get to the Southeastern 39 yard line, but Weed tossed his first interception that was returned all the way to the Northwestern 23.

The Savage Storm quarterback Kinsaul did the very same thing on the very next play, where it ended up in the hands of Cam White.

The Black and Red used the turnover well as they took it 97 yards, and scored from 14 yards out on a Weed scamper. The TD was set up by a flurry of rushes, with the longest of those going to Cota for 35 yards.

The Savage Storm basically erased the score on their next possession, crossing the goal line from nine yards out, pushing the lead back to 14.

The visitors tacked on a field goal at the end of the half, making it a 24-7 score headed into halftime.

Each team was able to get the ground game going in the first half as they each rushed for at least 120 yards, with SOSU going for 125 and Northwestern with 121 of their own. Both QBs struggled throwing the ball however as Weed threw for 83 and Kinsaul passed for 77 in the first 30 minutes of play.

The Rangers came out of the break with the ball, but were unable to get anything going and eventually punting where the ball was downed at the Southeastern 37.

On the first drive for the Savage Storm, the visitors traveled all the way down to the Ranger's 14-yard line where they put another field goal.

Northwestern was not content with going away though as the Rangers took it 65 yards down the field where Cota took it to the promised land from the five, making it a two-score game again.

The host's defense held strong again, knocking back the SOSU offense five yards in three plays and countered it with another 53-yard score on another Cota rush, making it just a seven-point game.

The Ranger defense held stout again, as they shut the visitors down in five plays. Following the 41-yard punt, the offense started moving down the field again.

A masterful drive by the Rangers resulted in another score, driving down the field 90 yards in 13 plays with the drive capped off by a seven-yard rush by Jalen Williams, tying it up at 27.

Following up the game-tying touchdown, the Savage Storm drove 51 yards down the field and put a heartbreaking field goal through the uprights for a last second go-ahead score.

The game didn't end without theatrics on the final kick return however as the Rangers tried the hook-and-ladder and moved it down the field, but weren't able to reach the end zone, ending the game in heartbreaking fashion.

Box Score

Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total

SEOSU 7 17 3 3 30

NWOSU 0 7 6 14 27