SHAWNEE – Another week of Oklahoma Baptist football is upon us as the team hits the road for a second consecutive week. This time, to Alva, where they'll take on GAC foe Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday, September 17. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Ranger Field.
This will be the 15th all-time meeting between the two, with the Bison holding an 8-4-2 lead
Live video of Saturday's contest will be available on
RideRangersRide.com and fans can listen to the broadcast on the
Bison Radio Network with the trio of Todd Miller, Scott Wanish, and John Brooks.
Game Notes
OPENING KICKOFF
- OBU returns to action following a 40-17 loss at the hands of Arkansas-Monticello. After scoring on the first play from scrimmage, the Bison saw their rhythm stall as UAM went on to score 40 points in the first half. Oklahoma Baptist managed seven points late in the second half, but it was to no avail as the Boll Weevils claimed the victory.
KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE
- The Bison have finished the last three seasons (2021, 2019, 2018) with an undefeated record versus in-state opponents, winning 16 consecutive games. In fact, the last loss came against Northwestern Oklahoma State in 2017 when OBU fell 31-24 in Alva. Since then, the final tallies versus NWOSU have been as follows: 38-31 (2018), 34-25 (2019), and 56-42 (2021). Last season marked the largest point margin between the two clubs since OBU began Great American Conference competition in 2015. Oklahoma Baptist will look to extend its streak over Oklahoma opponents to 17 come Saturday night.
SCHEMING UP THE RANGERS
- The last three meetings between OBU and NWOSU have been shootouts. The Oklahoma Baptist offense seems to have the Rangers' defense figured out, having posted eye-boggling numbers the last three years. Since 2018, the Bison have put up 1,369 yards of offense (783 passing-586 rushing) and 17 total touchdowns (12 passing-5 rushing). Furthermore, Oklahoma Baptist converted 77 first downs in that span, highlighted by 30 last season. In 2021, OBU threw six touchdowns, which set a single-game program record, and rushed for 221 yards en route to 531 yards of offense.
- Another thing to note is that the Bison returned an 87-yard kickoff against the Rangers in 2021. During OBU's three-year reign, 273 kickoff return yards have been charted, including 166 last season.
RANKING AMONG THE BEST
- Oklahoma Baptist remains the No. 1 passing offense in the Great American Conference after going for 282 yards against Arkansas-Monticello. The Bison average 322.5 yards through the air per contest, which ranks 10th nationally. The OBU air attack accounts for nearly 77% of the offense, as their total passing yards figure (645) ranks No. 8 in Division II. Furthermore, the Bison's 54 passing completions are fourth in the nation, while its completion percentage (58.1%) is third in the league.
- With 49 first downs this season, Oklahoma Baptist ranks second in the conference and 13th in Division II. The Bison only trail GAC affiliate Harding, who leads the nation with 58. Last week, OBU committed four penalties, bringing their season total to six. The figure is seventh in the nation and second in the conference, trailing Henderson State's three.
MR. ALL-PURPOSE
- Wideout Keilahn Harris tacked on 94 receiving and 29 return yards to his all-purpose total last week, bringing the figure to 408 yards. That ranks the junior from Richardson, Texas, fourth in Division II and first in the GAC. Harris' average of 204.0 all-purpose yards per game comes in at No. 5 nationally. Against UAM, Harris recorded four receptions and a touchdown, highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown catch on the first play from scrimmage. It was the second-longest catch of his career, 10 yards short of his career-best (75 yards) recorded in week one.
- Through two games, Harris has 273 receiving yards, 15 receptions, two touchdowns, and 135 return yards (kickoff/punt). Nationally, this is where he ranks: fourth in receiving yards, fifth in the receiving yards per game (136.5), 11th in receptions (15), and 12th in receptions per game (7.5). He leads the GAC in all aforementioned categories.
HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
RISING TO THE TOP
- Senior defensive back Trajan Lands is set to hit a benchmark no previous Oklahoma Baptist secondary member has achieved in the Division II era. Since the Bison joined the GAC in 2015, five safeties/corners have gone over 100 career tackles. Lands is just two tackles away from becoming the first OBU defensive back to reach 200 stops. Here's the top-three career tackles leaders among OBU DBs: Lands (198), Felipe Alvear (184), and Myles Russell (178).
PETERS PERFORMANCE
- Missouri Western transfer Kaleb Peters has been one of the early-season difference-makers for the Bison defense. Currently, he's the only player with double-digit tackle totals (13), eight of which are unassisted. Plus, he's the only defender with an interception and pass break-up.
SEASON DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
- Behind Peters in the defensive statistical rankings are players Nick Carpin and Lands, who have a matching 9.0 tackles and 1.0 TFL. Linebacker Elijah Tomlin is in fourth with eight tackles, including a team-best 1.5 TFLs. Rounding out OBU's bunch with six or more stops are Nick Boone, Jake Landers, and Malik Allen.
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
- Northwestern Oklahoma State enters Saturday with a 0-2 (0-2 GAC) record following its week one 51-27 loss to Henderson State. NWOSU charted the first score of the contest, but the Reddies answered with 21 points in the first before closing the half with 14 more. The Rangers mounted a subtle comeback in the fourth quarter, tallying 13 points off two scores, but the lead was insurmountable by the game's end.
- The Rangers boast the second-best passing offense in the GAC, totaling 323 yards and 299.0 yards per game. Here is where Northwestern ranks in the league in other passing categories: second in completion percentage (.643), third in passing efficiency (166.19), third in first downs (48), and third in total offense per game (474.0). Nationally, NWOSU checks in at No. 11 in total offense (948) and No. 12 in total offense per game. The passing attack is led by redshirt-junior quarterback Tanner Clarkson. After passing for 2,602 yards in 2021, Clarkson is already up to 518 yards through two games, which ranks second in the GAC. He leads the conference in total offense (664), passing efficiency (164.9), and passing touchdowns (6). Nationally, he is tied for seventh in points responsible for (42) and eighth for passing touchdowns.
- Defensively, Northwestern allows the most points per game in the GAC, giving up 57.5 through two games. In week one, Southern Arkansas scored 62 before Henderson State tallied 52 last week. NWOSU ranks near the bottom in the league in rushing defense (299.0 yds/gm) and is next to last in total defense (535.5 yds/gm). Additionally, Northwestern has not recorded a sack thus far. Sophomore linebacker Wacey Williams leads the Rangers in tackles with 12, while defensive back Alejandro Aaron has 10 stops. Furthermore, Defensive lineman Aaziah Flores has a team-best 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
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