OBU Squares Off with Rangers Saturday

Northwestern Oklahoma State (2-4) at Oklahoma Baptist (2-4) 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15 Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Memorial Athletic Complex Tickets | Fan Information | Bison Radio Network | Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist and Northwestern Oklahoma State meet in Shawnee for a football game for the first time since 1940. Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Complex.

Saturday's contest also marks football's Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Pink Heals will be in attendance with their pink fire truck and pink patrol cars for fans to sign and dedicate to the fight against cancer. Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear pink.

At halftime, OBU will honor members of the 2016 NCCAA champion Bison Baseball team by presenting them with their championship rings.
 
Since restarting the program in 2013, the Bison are 8-11 at home. OBU is 1-2 at home this season and looking to improve on last season's 1-4 home record. OBU holds a 3-0-1 record in home games against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
 
OBU trailed by 24 points last year in Alva before rallying for a 41-38 win as the teams combined for 11 turnovers. OBU lost four fumbles and threw two interceptions while the Bison defense picked off five Reid Miller passes, taking two back for touchdowns.
 
Miller leads Northwestern and the Great American Conference with 319.8 yard passing per game. Horatio Smith is his top target, averaging 88.2 yards per game, but 19 different Rangers have caught passes this season. Jacob Peyton leads the Northwestern rushing attack with 55.5 yards per game. His older brother, Devon Payton, leads the defense with 9.2 tackles per game.
 
The Bison remain atop the NCCAA Football rankings, where they have stayed since defeating Arkansas Tech in Week 2.
 
Dennis Nguyen had one tackle for loss last week and is tied for the lead in that category in the Great Americna Conference, now with seven tackles for loss on the season.
 
OBU welcomes back three defensive starters and a return to starting action for an offensive lineman. Phillip Spess and Charles Taylor III return to the defensive secondary and Tanner Robertson will see limited action at linebacker. Additionally, Creede Wright returns to the starting lineup at right guard.
 
Bison safety D'Ante Meeking registered 13 tackles last week and also picked off a pass. He now has five career interceptions and is third this season with 8.3 tackles per game.
 
OBU defensive lineman Dennis Nguyen leads the Great American Conference with seven tackles for loss this season through six games.
 
With Levi Jennings averaging 10.0 and Brynden Pitzer 8.7 tackles per game, the Bison have two of the top six tacklers in the Great American Conference. Jennings is third and Pitzer is sixth. Safety D'Ante Meeking is ninth.
 
Pierce Spead's fourth-quarter touchdown last week prevented the first shutout of OBU in the Chris Jensen coaching era. Jensen, who has guided the program through its rebirth and its current transition into NCAA Division II, has not experienced a shutout through 39 games. The last shutout of the Bison was a 0-0 tie against Central State Oklahoma in 1940.
 
Isaiah Mallory enters the game against Northwestern as the second-leading rusher in the GAC. He is averaging 113 yards per game.
 
Josh Pettijohn leads 14 other Bison who have received passes this season with 25 catches and 360 yards. He also leads the team with three touchdown receptions.