Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The 2014 SWOSU football team is no stranger to double-digit comeback wins in the fourth quarter, pulling off two of their own earlier this season. Saturday afternoon, however, the Bulldogs were on the opposite side as Southeastern Oklahoma State scored 21 unanswered points to defeat SWOSU 28-24 at Fast Lane Field.
The fourth interception of the day by the SWOSU defense – and second by
Conner Bays – was returned 34 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 24-7 lead with 1:09 to play in the third quarter. SWOSU was unable to close the door on the Savage Storm, however, as the offense fizzled in the fourth period, picking up just two first downs and not allowing much time to run off the clock.
Southeastern Oklahoma State took advantage of a short field, set up by a 16-yard punt from
Dalton Jackson, and scored four plays later to get within 10 at 24-14 with 12:36 to play. The Bulldogs went three-and-out on the next drive, but were allowed another shot after a personal foul penalty on Southeastern during the punt. Three plays later, however, it was back into punt formation and Jackson pinned the Savage Storm back on their own nine yard line.
The SWOSU defense held on the ensuing drive, allowing the Savage Storm to get up near midfield before forcing a punt. The offense took over with 8:00 to play, but melted just 3:37 off the clock before giving the ball back to Southeastern at their 21 yard line. A blown coverage on the first play of the drive allowed SE to get within three after a 79-yard touchdown pass with 4:23 on the clock.
After two runs by
Karl Hodge on the next drive, SWOSU quarterback
Klark Ashmore was sacked on third and seven, forcing the Bulldogs to give Southeastern the ball back with 3:12 to play. The Savage Storm took over at the SWOSU 43 yard line and needed nine plays to cover the ground needed to take the lead, going ahead on a two-yard touchdown rush with just 40 second to play.
SWOSU's offense had one final chance, but they were unable to move the chains and turned the ball over on downs after
Brad Smithey was stopped one yard shy of the first down marker with eight second remaining on the clock.
The Bulldogs outgained Southeastern – one of the top rushing attacks in the GAC – on the ground, but the Savage Storm had a huge fourth quarter through the air to hold a 372-to-234 edge in total offense.
Karl Hodge finished with 54 yards on the ground while
Cameron Nix carried 11 times for 50 yards while punching in touchdowns in the second and third quarters. Ashmore finished 15-of-28 passing for 120 yards and an interception, finding
Jared Rayburn,
Collin Bricker and
Brad Smithey three times apiece.
Tanner Thompson made a team-best 12 tackles for the Bulldogs with
Tyler Follis finishing with nine and 2.0 tackles for loss.
Conner Bays, making his first start of the season, intercepted two passes and had 51 return yards, including the first touchdown of his SWOSU career, to go along with eight tackles.
The loss is the fourth straight for SWOSU after they started the year 2-1. The Bulldogs (2-5, 2-5 GAC) now head on the road to face East Central, with a 4:00 pm kickoff scheduled in Ada next Saturday (Oct. 14).
