Northwestern Football to battle Boll Weevils in week 2 matchup
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September 7, 2018
ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University football team looks to bounce back in week two as the Rangers make their longest trip of the regular season on Saturday against Arkansas-Monticello. Kickoff between the Rangers and Boll Weevils is set for 6 p.m. from Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello, Arkansas.
The week two showdown can be heard on 105.7 FM The Pulse and AlvaRadio.com. Live stats for the contest will be available via the Fan Zone section on RideRangersRide.com.
The Rangers look to get back on track after falling to nationally ranked Ouachita Baptist, 29-21, on Aug. 30 at Ranger Field. After finding themselves in a 20-7 hole at one point in the third quarter, the Rangers fought back with an opportunity to make a stand late in the fourth quarter.
One of the big reasons for the comeback was the play of a duo of linebackers, Dakota Driskill and Maurice Wright Jr. Driskill picked up 16 total tackles against the Tigers, the most in the Great American Conference in the opening week, and the sixth most tackles after one week nationally. Wright, who finished the 2017 season as the conference’s leading tackler, picked up 11 tackles of his own.
There was no secret the Rangers had a return threat in Horatio Smith entering the year, but with the addition of redshirt freshman Justin Cain, that threat has become greater. The duo helped the Rangers pick up over 23 yards a return in week one to lead the league, and place them 33rd in the country in return average.
While UAM enters the game with the fourth-ranked scoring offense in the GAC after scoring 35 points last week against Southwestern Oklahoma State, the Boll Weevils, however, allowed 553 yards of total offense in a 49-35 loss to the Bulldogs.
Senior quarterback Cole Sears, who also punts for the Boll Weevils, accounted for 327 yards of their offense last week, including 283 yards through the air and 44 yards on the ground. All three of his touchdowns were scored on the ground.
Offense is never lacking when NWOSU and UAM match up on the gridiron as the Rangers have averaged 45 points a game in three of the last four games, winning each contest. The who programs have combined for 70-plus point in each of the last three games.
The all-time series between the two programs is knotted up at four games apiece, and each split games played in Monticello.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Football, follow @NWOSUAthletics on Twitter or visit http://www.riderangersride.com.
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