Alva Review-Courier -

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University football closed the season with fireworks in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Saturday night as the Rangers rolled over the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs, 38-14.

Northwestern finished the season 4-7 and eighth in the Great American Conference.

With the Bulldogs leading the game 8-0 after the first quarter, the Rangers broke the game wide open in the second quarter with 28 points to take a 28-8 lead into the break.

Horatio Smith started the scoring in the second half when he collected a punt at the Northwestern 25 yard line, and after a few moves, took the football to the house for a75-yard punt return for a touchdown. It was the first Ranger punt return for a score since the Rangers returned two in a game in 2011.

On the second play of the following Southwestern drive, Dakota Driskill picked up a pick-six as he pulled in a Casey Freeman throw and returned it for a touchdown to make the game a 14-8 contest. Driskill finished the game with eight tackles, seven of which were solo.

With six minutes remaining in the second half, the Rangers earned the first offensive touchdown as of the game as Isaiah Weed found Justin Cain from 22-yards out. Weed, who entered the game following a Cesar De Leon injury, finished the game 10-for-16 for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

De Leon was 6-for-10 for 57 yards in the first quarter.

Trey Lunn

Top: Rangers cornerback Aharon Barnes and linebacker Maurice Wright Jr. both fly up to tackle the Southwestern ball carrier, stopping him short of the first down on the third-down play. Bottom: NWOSU wide receiver Horatio Smith returns a punt in Saturday's game versus the Bulldogs.

Smith was a favorite target by both De Leon and Weed in his final game as a Ranger. Smith finished the evening with 111 yards on six catches.

Weed connected with Gavin Garner with 39 seconds remaining in the first half at about the 10 yard line. Garner made a move and scored to make it a 28-8 Ranger advantage at halftime. Garner finished the season with a team high six touchdowns.

After a fast third quarter, the Rangers added their final touchdown early in the fourth quarter. After starting the drive on their own six yard line, the Rangers drive the field 94 yards in six minutes and 14 seconds, capped off by a one-yard touchdown by Weed.

Much of the drive was on the back of Tyson Gatewood. The freshman finished the game with 129 yards rushing.

Southwestern got on the board first in the first quarter when they returned a punt block 37 yards for at touchdown at the 9:55 mark. The closed the contest with a 98-yard drive and a touchdown in the final minute.