Box Score
Box Score (html)
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Points were hard to come by in the second half for SWOSU on Saturday night as the Bulldogs were handed their first defeat of the young season, a 20-17 loss against Southern Arkansas in Magnolia.
The Bulldogs defense came up with several stops and held down an offense which had been averaging 50 points per game coming in. SWOSU allowed 438 yards to the Muleriders, but just 20 points, with 10 coming in the closing minutes.
SAU's Tyler Sykore found running back Mark Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown on a screen pass with 8:33 to play in the fourth quarter, giving the Muleriders the lead for the first time in the second half. After SAU held SWOSU on downs, they went 40 yards in seven plays and added a 31-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 20-10 with 1:40 to play.
The SWOSU offense showed it's resolve and
Dustin Stenta connected with
M.J. Porter on a 60-yard touchdown, the duo's second connection of the game, to pull the Bulldogs within three at 20-17 with 1:04 to play. However, the ensuing attempt at an onside kick was recovered by Southern Arkansas, allowing the Muleriders to nearly run out the clock.
After SAU turned the ball over on downs, SWOSU had two seconds left to attempt a hail mary, but Stenta's pass hit the turf, ending the Bulldogs winning streak.
Stenta connected on 20-of-41 pass attempts and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times after tossing just one interception in the season's first two weeks. His main target was
Brad Smithey, who he connected with seven times for 73 yards. Porter had just three catches, but made the most of them, scoring two touchdowns and covering 114 yards.
On defense,
Tyler George led SWOSU with 10 tackles while
Kale Sawatzky and
Ryan Feller each had seven.
Brandon Washington and
Kale Sawatzky each had an interception for the Bulldogs while
Noe Kipulu had forced a fumble that was recovered by Feller.
The loss drops SWOSU to 2-1 (2-1 GAC) on the year heading into Parents Day next Saturday evening against Arkansas-Monticello. That game will kick off at 6 pm from Fast Lane Field.
