Alva, Okla. — Southern Nazarene Football knocked off another road opponent Saturday, this time, the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State, 42-29.
 
After achieving their most successful season in the Division II era last year, The Storm (2-1, 2-1 GAC) have looked to carry it on into 2023, already becoming an above .500 team. The last time SNU started 2-1 on the season was in 2017 when they picked up two early wins over Harding and East Central. History shows the Rangers (0-3, 0-3 GAC) usually coming out on top of a matchup with SNU, but as they did last year, the Storm took it to Northwestern and handed them their third consecutive loss.
 
SNU did most of their work from the ground, recording 380 rushing yards for 549 yards of total offense. The Rangers worked better in the air, recording a total of 331 passing yards while completing 21 of their 37 total attempts. Penalties were one of the difference makers in the game as Northwestern suffered with 10 of them for over 100 yards.
 
SNU had an off start, fumbling on the fourth play of the game and allowing NWOSU possession on their own 49. The Storm defense stopped the Rangers dead in their tracks on the next drive, forcing them to punt. SNU capitalized with good field position and finished off a 7-play, 92-yard drive with the first score of the game, courtesy of Gage Porter's connection with Jarrell Farr on the 16-yard touchdown pass.
 
Southern Nazarene later achieved a 14-0 lead after Porter exploded for a 90-yard run to find himself in the end zone, earning his first rushing touchdown of the evening. The Rangers finally cut the deficit with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, putting up a 47-yard rushing touchdown to trail 14-7.
 
SNU took advantage of the final seconds of quarter one and marched down the field to throw up another score on the Rangers, this time, by a 21-yard run from Donald May. SNU had their heads high after the first 15 minutes, up 20-7.
 
Northwestern had a chance to cut the deficit once more at the start of the second quarter, but were denied with two incomplete passes and not a single yard gained. Southern Nazarene was the first to score in the quarter from another touchdown by Porter who zipped up the middle from the NWOSU 15. The extra point was good and SNU now led by 20 early in quarter two.
 
Both defenses took over the remainder of the quarter, forcing multiple three and outs to keep the score at bay. Northwestern was able to sneak in a field goal just before halftime from 25 yards out, heading into the locker room down 17 against the Storm.
 
Northwestern came back within 10 points in quarter three after the teams traded punts and the Rangers capped off a quick three-play drive with another rushing touchdown to put them behind 27-23. An SNU fumble put NWOSU on the Storm 15-yard line, but two incomplete passes from the Rangers and David Omosigho's block on their field goal attempt kept SNU in good standing.
 
Another SNU march down the field gave them the result they had hoped for, piecing together at 10-play 79-yard drive that ended with Porter connecting with May once more, for the 12-yard touchdown pass. Northwestern was unable to make something happen with two minutes remaining in the third quarter and SNU remained on top at 34-23 heading into the final fifteen minutes.
 
The first half of the final quarter remained scoreless from NWOSU's block on the Storm's 34-yard field goal attempt. Northwestern took over on their next possession and ripped out a 76-yard touchdown to trail by just five points at 34-29. NWOSU gave SNU a scare with just a few minutes remaining in the quarter, forcing a turnover on downs, and finding themselves on the SNU-7 the next possession. The SNU defense put up a wall and denied the Rangers of a first down.
 
SNU had the ball with just under two minutes remaining and put the game out of reach of the home team as Farr raced up the field for a 70-yard score. SNU's Aaron Fellows got the two-point conversion and put SNU ahead 42-29.
 
NWOSU's final drive was unsuccessful and the Storm let the clock bleed out, walking out of Alva with the final 42-29 victory.
 
 
Aside from SNU's electric offense, the defensive front showed up as well with Carter Brock leading the game with 11 tackles.
 
Up Next
 
SNU will return to Bethany September 23rd to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. SNU knocked off the Bulldogs last season in Weatherford, 45-38, making that their third victory over SWOSU since the two teams have met.