Indians, 67-7

If Saturday’s football game between Haskell Indian Nations University and Northwestern Oklahoma State was a boxing match, the towel would have been tossed in early.

In keeping with that pugilistic theme, Mike Tyson delivered the knockout blow in the Rangers’ 67-7 victory at Haskell Stadium.

“I guess that was the KO,” said a smiling Tyson, a freshman running back from Tulsa, Okla., who scored his first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Tyson’s touchdown was just another wound as the Fightin’ Indians’ pride took the brunt of Northwestern’s blows.

For the third straight week, Haskell couldn’t generate 75 offensive yards. And, for the third straight game, kick returner Martin Woods provided the only spark with 105 return yards.

Haskell managed just 15 offensive yards, including a negative output from its ground game for the second straight Saturday.

HINU’s only score was defensive back Brett Blythe’s 40-yard interception-return touchdown.

The Indians’ biggest offensive play was its first, when Peter Hahn caught a 13-yard pass from Chris Muniz.

Haskell didn’t have another play for more than eight yards.

Northwestern (3-0), on the other hand, racked up 414 total yards, and the Rangers had more touchdowns called back because of penalties (three) than Haskell had first downs (one).

Haskell coach Eric Brock said his team took the standing-eight count in the first quarter.

“From the game’s first play we missed tackles,” said Brock, whose team has been outscored 115-36 in three contests. “We got to grow up in a hurry.”