ROLAND - The Rangers took a big step toward clinching their second consecutive trip to the postseason Friday night at Ranger Stadium as Roland overcame a two-touchdown deficit to defeat Okmulgee 24-20.

Quarterback Austin Brewer of Okmulgee put the visitors on the scoreboard in the first period when the sophomore rushed for a 4-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs led 6-0 after the point-after kick was blocked by the Rangers’ defense.

Okmulgee’s Darrius Moore returned a Roland punt 65 yards for a touchdown later in the quarter, and James Wares kicked the extra point to make the score 13-0.

Jeff Roberts of the Rangers cut the deficit to 10 after kicking a 21-yard field goal, and the Bulldogs led 13-3 after the first stanza. Alex Cole had the big play of the drive with a 34-yard run and 15 yards were tacked on for a facemask penalty.

Roland halfback Jeremy Morris ran five yards for a touchdown to begin the second-period scoring, and Okmulgee’s advantage was three (13-10) after Jeff Roberts kicked the extra point. The key play on the drive was a 28-yard run on fourth-and-nine by punter Drew Roberts . Cole had a 13-yard gain and Morris ran for 23 yards to move the chains.

Morris crossed the goal line after a 3-yard run to give the Rangers their first lead of the night, and Roberts’ kick made the halftime score 17-13.

The Bulldogs struck first in the third period when Brewer found the end zone after 1-yard run, and Wares’ extra-point made the score 20-17.

Roland answered that touchdown with a 7-yard TD run by Morris, his third of the game, later in the stanza. The point-after kick by Jeff Roberts was good and the Rangers led 24-20 after three periods of play. Prior to the go-ahead score, Roland free safety Drew Roberts stripped the ball from an Okmulgee ball carrier. Roberts, who is normally the Rangers’ starting quarterback, played wide receiver in the contest because of a shoulder injury that occurred against Checotah on Oct. 24.

Okmulgee had two possessions in the fourth quarter but Roland stopped the Bulldogs as Morris recovered a fumble at the Ranger 37 and Michael Kightlinger intercepted a pass at the Roland 42.

Morris was the game’s leading rusher with 135 yards on 27 carries and fullback Cole contributed 120 yards on 12 attempts.

Roland improved to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in District 3A-4 while dropping Okmulgee to 2-4 in league play.