ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers (3-1) opened Saturday night's game at Cliff Harris Stadium with 21 straight points and closed the night by outscoring Northwestern Oklahoma State (1-3) 27-0 in the second half for a 55-13 final. Running back Kris Oliver scored three touchdowns for the third time this season and amassed 254 yards of total offense.

Ouachita gained 566 yards of total offense against the Rangers defense, 356 of those coming on the ground. The Tigers averaged 6.7 per carry and scored five rushing touchdowns. Two of those came on carries by Oliver, with the remaining three scored by freshman Donelle Hoof.

The Tiger defense held Northwestern to 291 yards of total offense. The Rangers mustered only 61 yards rushing yards on 30 attempts. Even more impressive, the Tigers defense held the Rangers to only five third down conversions on 15 tries.

Northwestern running back Jarion Tudman broke free for 51 yards on the second play of the Rangers opening possession. They threw three incompletions from the Ouachita 16 yard line and then missed a 3-yard field goal attempt. Taking over on their own 20 yard line, the Tigers offense marched down the field in 11 plays with Kris Oliver scoring on the ground from five yards out, giving Ouachita a 7-0 lead.

On the next Tiger possession, Austin Warford hit Ryan Perkins for a 35-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline. After forcing the second-straight three and out by the Rangers, Ouachita pounded the ball on the ground for 83 yards on 11 plays. Oliver broke loose for a 56-yard scamper, the longest play of the drive. Donelle Hoof carried it into the end zone from two yards out and Ouachita led 21-0 with three minutes left in the first quarter.

Northwestern answered on the first play of their next drive, scoring on a 75 yard pass play. Trailing 21-7, the Ranger started the second quarter on their own 35 yard line. A pass interference call on the Tiger defense nullified an interception by Shaquille Hunter. The Rangers capitalized with their second touchdown of the game, but a failed PAT made it a 21-13 game.

Warford hit Oliver to give Ouachita in the flat on the right sideline for a 12-yard touchdown, giving Ouachita a 28-13 lead at halftime.

Ouachita dominated the third quarter, scoring on three of their four possessions. Hoof scored his second rushing touchdown of the game in the quarter and Oliver rumbled for a 59-yard touchdown run with just over a minute left in the quarter. Ouachita outscored the Rangers 17-0 in the third. They possessed the ball for 8:38, gaining seven first downs and going 3-5 on third down conversions. The Ouachita defense was stellar, holding Northwestern to 26 yards of offense and forcing the Ranger offense to 0-3 on third down conversions in the third.

Cole Antley connected on his second field goal of the game to open the Tigers scoring in the fourth quarter. Northwestern's defense held the Tigers on their next possession forcing them to punt from the Ouachita 44. A Ranger fumble was recovered by senior Justin Jones on the Northwestern 12 yard line.

Hoof scored on the first play, rushing it in from 12 yards out. It was Hoof's third rushing touchdown of the night. Freshman Parker Witt came up big with a sack on the Ranger's final possession, forcing them to punt it away with 11 seconds remaining.

The Tigers would kneel down on the final play and give themselves a 55-13 win.

Kris Oliver rushed for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. He had two catches for 36 yards and a score.

Donelle Hoof rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries.

Austin Warford went 15-21-0 for 210 yard and two touchdowns. He rushed for 31 yards on nine carries.

Ke'Vontae Pope caught four passes for 69 yards. Ryan Perkins had one catch for 35 yards and a score. Fullback Kraft McLean had three catches for 28 yards.

Jahlon Mitchell finished with 5 tackles, one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Waymon Johnson Jr., Luke Holt and Parker Witt added sacks for Ouachita. As a unit, the Tigers defense recorded 11 tackles for loss for -52 yards.

The Tigers forced two turnovers. Justin Jones recovered a fumble and Alex Myres returned an interception for 57 yards.

Cole Antley went 2-2 on field goal attempts, 7-7 on extra point attempts. He recorded six touchbacks on 10 kickoffs.