Haskell Indian Nations University’s football squad kept No. 5-ranked Northwestern Oklahoma State from scoring from the one-yard line on four straight plays late in the third quarter.

The problem for Haskell was that the Rangers had no problems scoring from almost anywhere else on the field Saturday as Northwestern easily defeated the Fightin’ Indians, 38-0, at Haskell Stadium.

“We played so well on that series,” HINU linebacker A.J. Leading Fox said. “So it’s very disappointing that we weren’t able to do a better job of stopping them the rest of the game. I feel like we really let them have a lot of their big plays.”

HINU defenders repeatedly couldn’t wrap up Northwestern ball carries, but the Rangers’ offense certainly was overwhelming.

Northwestern (6-1) leads the Central States Football League with an average of 414 offensive yards a game. Saturday it racked up only 368, but the Rangers allowed Haskell (4-5) just 75 offensive yards.

“They are a very good football team,” HINU coach Eric Brock said. “But they benefited greatly from our mistakes. Our players just didn’t really grasp the opportunity that we had today. We have to go out there and play without those silly errors. Our mistakes our correctable, but you can’t make them and hope to be successful against a team of their caliber.”

In four previous meetings, Northwestern had outscored Haskell, 226-13, but at the start Saturday it seemed Haskell might not follow form. After forcing Northwestern to punt on its first two possessions, HINU had the chance to stop the Rangers on a fourth-and-one from the Fightin’ Indians’ 34.

Instead, Odie Armstrong ran up the gut untouched for a touchdown, sparking the Rangers’ big-play day.

Armstrong, who rushed for 131 yards on just five carries in the first half, added a two-yard score for the Rangers at the end of the first half.

Haskell Indian Nations University defenders scramble to take down Northwestern Oklahoma State's Mike Tyson (34). The Fightin' Indians lost, 38-0, Saturday at Haskell Stadium.

Haskell had a scoring opportunity before halftime, but Kevin Penass dropped a wide-open pass from Jody Franklin in the end zone.

Armstrong then responded with a 58-yard scoring scamper.

While the Indians’ defense came to life in the third quarter — allowing just a field goal and pulling off the big goal-line stand — the game already was out of reach.

“We just have to regroup once again and look to the next couple of weeks and try to play those games and have a special ending to the season,” Brock said.

HINU will play host to Panhandle State at 2 p.m. Saturday.