Alva Review-Courier -

SEARCY, Ark. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University football had no answer for the No. 24 Harding option game Saturday afternoon as the Rangers fell in a Great American Conference to the Bisons, 38-7.

Northwestern’s record fell to 3-5 with the loss, while the Harding moved to 6-2 this season. The Rangers return home next Saturday afternoon with a showdown with longtime foe Southern Nazarene on Senior Day.

Dakota Driskill led the Ranger defense with 10 tackles, while Alejandro Aaron had nine tackles and Maurice Wright Jr. was credited with eight takedowns. Nehemiah Lewis and Wright each recorded sacks in the loss.

Already boasting the top defense in the GAC, Harding held the Rangers surging offense at bay as they struggled to get anything going. The Rangers collected 245 yards on offense, including 198 yards through the air and 47 yards on the ground.

Harding was only allowing 219 yards per game in total defense and 138 yards a contest in pass defense.

Northwestern got on the board late in the game when Cesar De Leon found Kentrez Bell in the middle of the field for a 34-yard connection. Bell lost the ball just before crossing the goal line, but was able to recover and fall on the ball for the touchdown.

The touchdown snapped an eight quarter scoring drought against the Bisons.

De Leon finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 198 yards and the touchdown. Norway native Kevin Ford led the Ranger receiving corps with four catches for 84 yards, while Bell, Horatio Smith and Myle Mitchusson each had a pair of catches.

Tyson Gatewood was again the leading rusher for the Rangers with 43 yards on 11 carries.

The home team started the scoring in the first quarter when the Bisons drove the field on eight plays for a four yard score by quarterback Preston Paden. The sophomore punched in three touchdowns, collecting 75 yards on 4-of-6 passing and had 18 carries for 37 yards on the ground. Cole Chancey and Romar Reades had touchdown runs of six and four yards to close the Harding scoring.

Taylor Bissell was the leading rusher for the Bisons with 82 yards, including a 55 yard run in the third quarter.