Rangers tame Tigers in football season opener

 

September 8, 2019



ADA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State football team used a dominating defensive performance to conquer East Central, 21-13, on the road on Thursday at Norris Field in Koi Ishto Stadium.

The Red and Black moves to (1-0), while ECU falls to (0-1) on the season and in Great American Conference play.

The controlling defensive performance saw the Rangers hold the Tigers offense to two field goals until late in the final quarter. The defense bent, but never broke, forcing two ECU fumbles inside of the five-yard line. The Ranger defense tallied five takeaways on the night. Capped off by Dakota Driskill's 48-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and Jailyn Reed snagged a 22-yard pick-six.

"Heck of a fight by the East Central team gotta give them some props," head coach Matt Walter stated. "They played very tough; I think our defense played phenomenal scoring 14 points and collecting five total takeaways – you do that and I think you can win a lot of games. Our offense was able to be real conservative, but we've got to open up a little bit in that area. I am real proud of our guys and I am proud of Coach Weeden, in his first game calling the game. It was safe, but very effective. I was very impressed how we came out tonight on the road and got a win!"

East Central took a 3-0 lead on a 45-yard field goal by Harper Simmons with 8:55 to go in the second quarter.

NWOSU connected on an 80-yard bomb from Trent Easley to Kentrez Bell on the first play of the drive with 44 seconds to go in the first half. Bell ran right past the opposing defensive back to haul in the wide open receiving score.

Bell, a senior from Kansas City, Missouri, led the Rangers with 82 yards on two receptions. Easley, a redshirt-sophomore from Grand Saline, Texas, threw for 158 yards on 11-24 passing, with a touchdown. Calion Baker, a sophomore from Gainesville, Texas, paced Northwestern on the ground collected 82 yards on eight attempts, thanks to the 79-yard breakaway run to seal the game with one minute remaining.

Driskill had 14 total tackles on the afternoon, including seven solo tackles, he also recovered two fumbles, the first of which was to end the opening drive by ECU in the endzone. Maurice Wright Jr. had eight total tackles, with a fumble recovery and an interception.

The Rangers will ride the momentum of dominating the Tigers back to Alva and will square-off with Southeastern Sept. 14 at home on Ranger Field at 6 p.m., looking to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2004.

 

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