Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA -- Northwestern Oklahoma State football team closed out the season with some power Saturday afternoon following a 41-0 victory over the rival Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers used a strong defensive performance building offensive momentum for a strong team victory.

The win gives Ronnie Jones his first win with the Northwestern football program following strong performances all around. The Northwestern defense forced four turnovers, all interceptions including an interception for a touchdown. The offense finished with 474 total yards and five total touchdowns.

Ethan Everson finished the game with three passing touchdowns, throwing for 315 yards along with 31 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Braden Reichert finished the game with 139 receiving yards and a touchdown. Three different receivers caught touchdown passes including Travis Romar and Torrence Stevens. Jashaun Foster had 42 yards and a touchdown.

The Rangers started the game with the ball with an electric first drive as Everson completed the drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Travis Romar for an early 7-0 lead following the extra point from Tyler Furey. After the first touchdown of the game the defenses did not allow any more points. The Rangers had a strong drive toward the end of the first quarter getting down to the Southwestern six-yard line but an interception by the Southwestern defense kept the Rangers in front 7-0 through the first quarter.

It was halfway through the second quarter when the Rangers would find the end zone again after the defense forced another punt/ Northwestern took over at the Southwestern 49. Following a fake handoff that Everson would run for 29 yards setting up a first and goal situation J. Foster finished the drive with a 13 yard touchdown run putting the Ranger in front 13-0.

Southwestern was able to drive down the field toward the end of the first half before Antoine Martin put an end to the drive with an interception keeping the Rangers in front 13-0 at halftime.

The Rangers were set up with great field position in their first possession of the third quarter following a Southwestern punt that was returned 85 yards by Chancelor Gill to the Southwestern three yard line. Everson capitalized with a three yard rushing down to continue to extend the Ranger lead. The next Bulldog possession led to more points for the Rangers as on their own 29 yard line following a Chase Stokes sack putting the Bulldogs back 10 yards Isaiah Kellum intercepted Sean Shelby's pass returning it to the house for a touchdown and a 27-0 lead. The Rangers found the end zone once more in the third quarter on a 32 yard touchdown pass from Everson to Stevens for a 34-0 lead through three quarters of play.

The final Ranger touchdown came early in the fourth quarter following a four yard rush Everson dropped back going deep to Braden Reichert for 54 yards setting up a 12 yard touchdown to Reichert. The Rangers had another interception ending a drive by Southwestern this one by Wacey Williams on the Northwestern 30 taking it back into Bulldog territory. Beau Foster put the final touches on the game with an interception being the Ranger defense's fourth one of the evening.

The Rangers end their season with the blowout win with the largest margin of victory and first shutout for the Rangers in the division II era against the Bulldogs. This is the first shutout victory since 2019 in a 28-0 win over Arkansas Monticello.