MAGNOLIA -- It counts as a victory, and Southern Arkansas University Coach Bill Keopple won't give it back even if his 21st-ranked Muleriders played in fits and bursts before putting away Northwestern Oklahoma State 27-14 on Saturday night Wilkins Stadium.
The Muleriders put the game in a 13-point comfort zone with less than four minutes to play, but it was anything but comfortable before that point.
SAU (4-0) failed to score on 4 of its 8 trips inside the NWOSU 20-yard line, suffered 2 interceptions and needed the defense to bail them out from start to finish.
The biggest defensive play came with SAU leading 20-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Safety Brock Floyd, lagging back, baited Rangers quarterback Isaiah Weed to throw into double coverage, and Floyd returned the ball to the NWOSU 25.
A chop-block penalty moved it back to the Rangers' 40, but Lorenzo Alexander (14-83 rushing) broke away for a 40-yard touchdown run -- SAU's biggest offensive play of the game -- with 3:47 to play in the fourth quarter.
SAU dominated the statistics, outgaining NWOSU 342-254 with an 18-9 advantage in first downs and controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes.
But the Muleriders could not put the Rangers (1-3) away.
SAU opened the door for NWOSU one final time when it couldn't convert on first and goal from the NWOSU 2 with 8:00 to play.
Linebacker Malik Preston set up the Muleriders when he sacked Weed and recovered the ball in front of the Rangers' goal line.
But three plays netted 1 yard, and Austin Wilkerson's 18-yard field goal attempt slipped wide right with 6:36 to play and the Rangers were given renewed hope.
SAU caught a huge break moments before Preston's big play.
NWOSU had a first down at its 6 with 9:15 to play when Tyson Gatewood (11-90 rushing, 1 TD) broke free for an apparent 94-yard touchdown run that would have tied the game.
But a yellow flag thrown at the Rangers' 5 negated the play, putting the ball back to the NWOSU 3, leading to Preston's big defensive play.
SAU led 20-7 after Austin Wilkerson's 22-yard field goal with 12:31 to play.
The Rangers got back into the game at the 11:46 mark when Weed (9-of-23 passing, 127 yards) connected with Gavin Garner for a 74-yard touchdown play on a tipped ball.
SAU went up 20-7 after a big play by all-purpose back Jared Lancaster, who caught passes, covered punts, recovered a fumble and returned punts to boost the Muleriders.
Lancaster's 13-yard punt return at the end of the third quarter put the Muleriders at the NWOSU 43. The Muleriders had first and goal at the 4 but settled for Wilkerson's second field goal of the second half.
The Rangers' first two drives of the second half resulted in three-and-out punts, but the Muleriders struggled to take advantage.
It wasn't until SAU's third possession of the third quarter, after kicking a go-ahead field goal, that the Muleriders drove the ball.
Quarterback Barrett Renner's 14-yard scramble on third and 10 from the NWOSU 48 gave the Muleriders first down at the Rangers' 34.
Renner found Karonce Higgins for a 31-yard play after a defender's deflection and a bobble by Higgins.
SAU scored on second and goal from the 3 when Renner rolled left and found his tight end Dalton Wright in the left corner of the end zone to make it 17-7 with 4:07 to play in the third quarter.
SAU took the lead on its previous possession, Austin Wilkerson's 31-yard field goal with 9:07 to play in the third quarter.
Sports on 09/23/2018