ALVA, Okla. — One thing Southern Nazarene University can say about the last few weeks of football is that it has had a chance despite losing. The same story could be told Satudray as SNU had a lead in the fourth quarter, but fell just short in a 39-29 loss at Northwestern Oklahoma State.
 
The Crimson Storm (0-10, 0-10 GAC) led 29-24 less than a minute into the fourth quarter, but a Ranger (2-7, 2-7 GAC) drive late and a pick-six cost SNU greatly in the end.
 
For the fifth time in six games, Lorenzo Alexander ran for over 100 yards as the freshman had 123 yards on 20 carries and had a 56-yard scamper as well. James Mauro threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns as he complete 19 of his 37 passes and had just one interception. Alec Laffoon threw for five yards going 2-for-4 and rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown. Austin Williams had 84 yards receiing on three catches while Johnathan Martin had eight catches for 49 yards. John Page and Myles Smith each had a touchdown.
 
Larry Butler led the way defensively with seven tackles, two for a loss, a safety and broke up a pass.
 
The Rangers jumped out in front early scoring the only touchdown in the first quarter and the first in the second quarter to lead 14-0. The Crimson Storm answered through on a 7-play, 82-yard drive that was capped by a Smith touchdown reception from Mauro to make it 7-0. Mauro then connected with Page for a 13-yard strike to make it 14-0 to with 1:40 left in the half as part of a 13-play, 91-yard drive. Northwestern though snuck ina field goal with two seconds left to take a 17-14 lead at the break.
 
SNU struck first in the second half when Butler came up with a safety just over three minutes into the third quarter to cut it to 17-16 before BJ Smith scooped up a fumble on a punt return and needed to go just five yards to find the end zone. That gave SNU a 23-17 lead with 9:06 left in the third. The Rangers retook the lead with 2:41 left in the third on a 64-yard run by Micah Kee and held the 24-23 advantage to start the fourth.
 
The Storm though took the lead right back less than a minute into the fourth when Laffoon scored on a 14-yard run to complete a 72-yard drive as SNU took a 29-24 lead. Five minutes later Northwestern changed leads for the fourth time as it took a 32-29 lead with 9:02 left to play. On the ensuring drive SNU had pushed into Ranger territory, but Laffoon threw an interception that was taken all the bway back as NWOSU took a 39-29 lead with 6:23 to play.
 
That was all the Rangers needed to hold on for the win.