Box Score
Box Score (html)
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Big plays propelled the Southwestern Oklahoma State University football team to their second consecutive victory, a 28-17 win at Arkansas Tech on Saturday night in Russellville.
Dustin Stenta connected on touchdown passes with four different receivers, each one going for 35 yards or longer. After falling behind 7-0 early in the first quarter, Stenta unleashed his first touchdown pass, finding
Brad Smithey streaking down the seam for a 57-yard completion to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:32 to play in the opening quarter.
Terrance Franklin intercepted Wonder Boy quarterback Luke Halpin on the first play of the second quarter and the SWOSU offense took no time to convert the turnover. On the ensuing play, Stenta connected with
M.J. Porter on a 40-yard touchdown that gave SWOSU a 14-7 lead with 14:50 to go in the half.
Arkansas Tech would answer with a nine play, 57-yard field goal drive to cut the lead to 14-10 before another highlight play for the Bulldogs. Following a personal foul which had the Bulldogs faced with 1st and 25 from midfield, Stenta eluded pressure in the pocket and found
Ryan Corbin, who would take it in and give SWOSU a 21-10 lead.
ATU again rallied following a SWOSU score and used a quick seven-play drive to score and cut the lead to 21-17 at the break.
The game turned into a defensive battle in the second half and the Bulldogs were up to the task. On six second-half possessions, SWOSU forced four Wonder Boy punts, one missed field goal and intercepted a pass on the final ATU drive of the game.
The SWOSU offense found success with the run game in the second half, but the big play came early in the fourth quarter when Stenta found
Brian Robinson across the middle for a 35-yard pass which put SWOSU in on top 28-17 with 10:12 to play. On that play, Stenta also eclipsed the 7,000-yard milestone for his career as at SWOSU.
The defense then took control and finished the game for SWOSU, forcing three-and-outs on the next two Wonder Boy drives.
Abram Piggee intercepted Halpin with 2:07 to play, allowing SWOSU to run out the clock on an opponent for the second straight week.
For the game, SWOSU totaled 448 yards of total offense, with 271 coming through the air and 177 on the ground. In turn, the Bulldogs defense limited Arkansas Tech to 343 yards of total offense and just 47 yards rushing.
Stenta finished 15-for-27 for 271 yards through the air and he tied a career-high with four touchdown passes. He was also effective on the ground, carrying the ball seven times for 70 yards.
D.C. Walker carried the ball 22 times for SWOSU, gaining a game-high 96 yards and he caught one pass out of the backfield for 11 yards. Smithey and Corbin each had six receptions for 94 and 91 yards, respectively, to go along with a touchdown. Porter and Robinson each made just one reception, but both receptions resulted in touchdowns.
Kale Sawatzky recorded 11 tackles (four solo, seven assist) to lead the SWOSU defense. He also had one of SWOSU's eight tackles for loss.
Cliff Nyagesiba added 10 tackles (three solo, seven assist) and
Jim O'Brien had nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and he combined with
Devin Benton on a sack.
Jacolby Robinson also notched a sack in the game.
With a 2-0 record for the first time since 2007, the SWOSU football team returns to action next Saturday in Magnolia, Ark., where they will face Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders are now 1-1 after defeating East Central 50-16 on Saturday evening.
