WEATHERFORD, Okla.—Southern Nazarene collected their second straight win over an Oklahoma school as they grounded and pounded their way to a 45-38 win at Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday night in Weatherford.
Southern Nazarene (2-5, 2-5 GAC) continues to be one of the top rushing attacks in the nation as they put up a school-record 524 yards on the ground. The majority of that damage came from Gage Porter and Angel Ramirez, who became the first pair of Crimson Storm players to each rush for over 200 yards in the same game. Ramirez became the first SNU running back to rush for over 200 yards in a game since Derick Perkins in 2012 and joined a list of just three others at any position, including Porter, to ever break the 200-yard barrier.
Trailing by three scores, Southwestern Oklahoma State (3-4, 3-4 GAC) made it interesting late as they overcame a 20 point deficit to tie the game with just over five minutes to play. It was not enough, though, as SNU put together one final drive to secure the game-winning touchdown and their second-win of the season.
The big ground game got started on the very first play from scrimmage. After a touchback on the opening kickoff, Angel Ramirez took the opening play from scrimmage 75 yards up the middle to put SNU ahead 7-0. That run was one of four SNU rushes of over 50 yards, three of which came from Ramirez.
The Crimson Storm opened up a lead after outscoring SWOSU 16-0 in the second quarter. They used a pair of touchdown runs and a safety to open up a 23-10 halftime lead. The safety came following a perfect punt off the foot of All-GAC First-Team punter, Ryan Reid, who deadened the ball right at the one-yard line.
The lead quickly swelled to 30-10 early in the second half after Southern Nazarene forced a three-and-out and scored a touchdown in just three plays. A pair of SWOSU touchdowns in the third quarter trimmed Southern Nazarene's advantage to just six. Angel Ramirez got going again, though, as he busted off his third run of more than 60 yards to push SNU back up two scores.
That two-score lead did not hold, though, as the Bulldogs tied the game at 38 after back-to-back touchdowns. After seeing their three-score lead disappear, the Storm were forced to make some plays with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
Facing a third-and-ten at their own 21 yard-line, SNU looked to pass, but Gage Porter found a lane and scrambled up the sideline. He shook off multiple defenders and barrelled his way 58 yards down field to put SNU in prime position to win the game. Three plays later Porter burst up the middle from eight yards out to give him 226 yards and his fourth touchdown of the game.
With just one minute left on the clock, SNU was able to hold Southwestern to midfield and secure a win over the Bulldogs for the second straight season.
Along with Ramirez and Porter's big days, there were some impressive games on the defensive end. Trenton Smith totaled 14 tackles in the game, seven of which were solo tackles. Carter Brock finished the game with six tackles, three of which were tackles for loss, including one sack. Marcus Sowell also notched one sack as a part of five total tackles.
On top of SNU's record setting 524 yards on the ground, SNU added 41 yards through the air to give them an SNU DII era record of 565 total yards.
For Southern Nazarene, they have now won back-to-back games over Oklahoma schools and they will look to make it three in a row next time out as they host Northwestern Oklahoma State next Saturday. The Rangers are coming off a 26-23 upset win over Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday. Last season the Rangers defeated SNU 47-27 in Alva. SNU will look for their revenge on October 22. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at the SNU Football Stadium.
