Bulldogs Ready for Rangers

August 26, 2008

WEATHERFORD, Okla. -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s much anticipated 2008 football opener will again welcome a longtime rival that promises to be a spirited matchup against teams that have staged many historic and memorable battles over the years.

SWOSU's kickoff against Northwestern Oklahoma State University is set for Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at Ranger Field in Alva, Okla.

The two squads parted ways in 1997 when the Bulldogs joined NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference while the Rangers remained in the NAIA.

Since then both have enjoyed triumphant seasons. SWOSU won a share of the LSC North Title in 1997 and 2007 and had winning seasons in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007. The Rangers won a NAIA title in 1999 and were runner-ups in 2000 and 2003.

“This is an important game, not only because of who it is, but where it falls on the schedule. We can set the tone for the remaining 10 games by taking care of business in week one,” said SWOSU coach Ryan Held.

The teams have met 78 previous times going back 101 years to 1907. SWOSU holds a 47-27-4 advantage over the Rangers and have beaten NWOSU three straight times, including last year’s 33-7 win in Weatherford.

Prior to that, the team’s last met in 1996 when SWOSU knocked off NWOSU, then the NAIA’s No. 1 ranked team, by a score of 16-10 to gain a share of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference title in the final regular season game. A week later the Bulldogs did it again, winning 17-7 in the NAIA National Semifinals on their way to their first ever NAIA football championship.

This year’s game will likely add to the lore of the storied history as both teams are expected to do well in 2008. The Bulldogs have 10 starters back from last year’s 6-5 team that was among five teams that shared for the LSC North title. NWOSU is the NAIA’s No. 18th ranked team and favored to repeat as the Central States Football League champion.

Offensively, SWOSU returns all-conference quarterback Steve Day along with star wide receiver Johnathan Haggerty. Both should benefit from an improved running game that now boasts a hard running tailback Luke Lundy and junior college speedster Ovie Esalomi.

Defensively, SWOSU will try to contain quarterback Billy Barefield whose father, Keith, is NWOSU’s head coach. Last year the Bulldogs made things tough for the new quarterback, sacking him five times and allowing him only 93 yards passing on 23 attempts.

Much of SWOSU’s same defensive group is back, including the top two tackler’s from last year, Greg Franklin and Ruzell McCoy. Franklin will move from his middle linebacker spot to defensive end while McCoy will slide over to fill the spot vacated by Franklin.