ALVA, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas football team was unable to overcome a slow offensive start and ultimately fell on the road at Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday night by a score of 38-16.
 
RECORDS
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (2-2, 2-2 GAC)
Northwestern Oklahoma Rangers (2-2, 2-2 GAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – First Half

• SAU took the opening possession and within two plays were into NWOSU territory as the Muleriders were aided by a 15-yard penalty by the Rangers. The first of three false start penalties came on the next play, however, as the promising opening drive resulted in a punt by SAU.
• On their initial possession, the Rangers marched right down the field and scored a touchdown for the game's first points. That drive by the Rangers consumed 80 yards on 13 plays in 5:28 seconds. Additionally, that opening drive saw the Rangers collect five first downs as they got off to a quick start.
• The Muleriders answered that emphatic drive back with one of their own as four first downs helped push SAU just outside the redzone to the NWOSU 21-yardline. SAU would be unable to score on that drive, however, as the Rangers turned the Muleriders over on downs.
• A quick three-and-out was forced by the Muleriders defense right at the end of the first quarter, but a lost fumble three plays into the ensuing drive halted any momentum for SAU.
• The SAU defense then forced another punt, but the offense of the Muleriders remained unable to get going consistently as two more false start penalties were assessed to stall out that drive.
• NWOSU capitalized on their next chance with the football and made it 14-0 with just under six minutes left in the first half.
• On the ensuing SAU drive, the Muleriders moved the ball near midfield, but the drive ended abruptly on an interception. Thrust back into action, SAU defense backed the offense by forcing a quick three-and-out, but another interception two plays later put the defense back out to defend a short field.
• A delay of game penalty and sack pushed the Rangers back to the SAU 30-yardline, but the Rangers grabbed a 21-point lead as Anthony Cota broke free for a 30-yard touchdown.
• Following that, SAU was able to put points on the board in the waning moments of the first half as Bradford Grems drilled a 43-yard field goal.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Second Half

• After winning the toss and deferring to the second half, NWOSU got the ball first, up 21-3. That initial drive of the second half did not amount to much as the Mulerider defense forced a punt.
• On their opening possession of the second half, the Muleriders came out in a different formation and the new look paid off as the Muleriders were able to march down the field on nine plays for their first touchdown of the game. That score was a 12-yard pass from Barrett Renner to Garrett Turnbull.
• NWOSU did not allow that momentum to build, however, as they answered with a scoring drive of their own to make it 28-9 late in the third quarter.
• Minutes later, NWOSU built their lead out to 22 points, 31-9, on a 29-yard field goal by Zave Goodrich.
• The Muleriders would show signs of life and began a furious comeback attempt on their drive that started at their own 32-yardline with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter. That drive needed just three plays for SAU to find the endzone as Renner and Jared Lancaster connected on consecutive 34-yard pass plays with the last of those resulting a touchdown to make it 31-16.
• Needing to steal a possession at some point, the Muleriders then elected to go for an on-side kick and it was successful as Grems recovered the on-side try.
• The ensuing drive faced a pivotal moment right away as it was 4^th-and-2 from the NWOSU 46-yardline. On that play, Renner ran for five yards to pick up what would have been a third down, but 20 yards worth of penalties negated the conversion and gave the Muleriders a 4^th-and-23 situation that they would be unable to convert.
• SAU's final two possessions would end in turnovers with an interception and a lost fumble. In between those, NWOSU scored a touchdown to bring the game to its final of 38-16.

 
TURNING POINT(S)
One of the turning points came in the second quarter with the score 14-0, NWOSU. After NWOSU took that 14-point lead, SAU's next two possessions ended in turnovers with interceptions. SAU's defense was able to stave off any Ranger points on the first INT and looked to be in position to do the same on the second, but a 30-yard touchdown run by Anthony Cota made it 21-0, NWOSU with 1:08 left in the first half.
 
A second turning point came after SAU scored their second touchdown and recovered the on-side kick. With momentum building late and facing a 4-and-2, the Muleriders converted initially on a five-yard rush by Renner, but 20 yards worth of penalties on the play negated the conversion and made it an improbable 4-and-23. The Muleriders would not convert from that distance, ending one of their last best chances to comeback in the game.
 
OF NOTE

• Current GAC Defensive Player of the Week Davondrick Lison registered 2.0 more sacks against Northwestern Oklahoma to bring his season total to 6.0. Last week, Lison had 3.0 sacks.
• Bradford Grems' 43-yard field goal at the end of the first half set a new career long for the senior kicker. His previous best was a 42-yard make last year against Northwestern Oklahoma.

 
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will now return home and look to quickly put the loss at Northwestern Oklahoma behind them as they welcome in Oklahoma Baptist for a 6 p.m. kick-off on Saturday, September 30.