Box Score (html)
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – For the first time since 1993 the SWOSU Football team has won five straight games after defeating Arkansas Tech 28-14 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 7-3 on the year. The victory moves the Bulldogs into a share of second place in the GAC standings with the Bulldogs holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over each other team they're tied with.
After a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives early in the second quarter to go on top 14-0 with 7:46 to play in the half.
Marc Evans found
Carlos Smith crossing in the end zone to cap off a seven-play 60-yard drive that got the scoring started. Arkansas Tech was driving into SWOSU territory on their next drive when
Trevon Hartfield intercepted a pass at the 13-yard line and returned it to midfield to set up the next drive.
SWOSU wasted little time converting it into points with Evans finding Smith again down the seam for a 47-yard gain down to the three yard line, where
Karltrell Henderson punched it in on the next play to make it 14-0. Arkansas Tech used a 12-play drive that covered 70 yards for their first score, which was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Arsenio Favor. Both teams got the ball one more time in the half, but the score stayed at 14-7 heading into the break.
Several punts were traded in the fourth quarter and Arkansas Tech missed a 32-yard field goal as most of the period was played in SWOSU territory. After taking over at their own 10 yard line with 4:02 remaining in the third, the Bulldogs needed just four plays to cover the field and regain their two-score lead. Evans found
D.J. Jones twice on the drive, including the home run ball down the right sideline from 54-yards out that made the score 21-7 with 2:44 to play in the period.
After holding Arkansas Tech on downs at the end of the third quarter, SWOSU's first offensive drive of the fourth went three-and-out, giving the Wonder Boys possession with 14:02 to play. What ensued was another long ATU drive that covered 69 yards in 17 plays – the longest drive against the Bulldogs this season – and ended with a one-yard run by Arsenio Favor. ATU converted four third downs on the drive and an extremely fortunate fourth-down pass that was broken up by
Trevon Hartfield but fell into the arms of a receiver at the three yard line.
SWOSU took the field on the ensuing drive looking to run some clock and they got 2:24 off in five plays before giving the ball back to Arkansas Tech. The Wonder Boys got one first down on their next drive before
Trevon Hartfield was again on the receiving end of a deep ball that he intercepted and ran back into ATU territory with 3:57 to play. The Bulldogs were not being conservative on offense, attempting to fourth downs, the final of which ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Evans to
Derrick Styles on 4th and 7, a play that ended up as the clincher for the Bulldogs.
Five defenders reached double figures in tackles for the Bulldogs, who faced 103 plays in the game but allowed just 390 yards and 14 points in the game.
Conner Bays led the Bulldogs with 14 tackles (eight solo, six assist) while
Tyler George had a season-high with 13 stops.
Gentry Rogers (12) and
Trevon Hartfield (10) each had career games in terms of tackles while Hartfield had 71 return yards on two interceptions, the fifth-best yardage mark for a defender in SWOSU's NCAA Division II history.
Kapena Olsen also had 10 tackles and
Collier Ward finished with four stops, including three tackles for loss and two sacks.
Offensively,
Marc Evans finished 16-for-37 passing for 276 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 21 touchdown passes this season, the second-best single-season total in SWOSU football history.
D.J. Jones was his top target with five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown with
Carlos Smith adding four receptions for 69 yards and a score and
Derrick Styles having the clinching touchdown grab as part of his two receptions for 68 yards.
The Bulldogs got just 43 yards rushing on 28 attempts, with
Karltrell Henderson totaling 28 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries while
Kenneth Martey had 15 yards on 11 carries.
"What a big-time game. You look at Arkansas Tech, they're very good on both sides of the ball," SWOSU Head Coach
Dan Cocannouer said following the game. "Our offense stuttered at times, but that defense they were playing is great. Our defense played unbelievable and my hats off to them, it's a tribute to how we've played the last four weeks. They were awesome."
With one game remaining in the regular season, SWOSU has climbed to second in the Great American Conference on the heels of five straight victories. The Bulldogs have tied for their most wins in a season during the NCAA Division II era (2002) and they now seek their first eight-win season since winning the 1996 NAIA National Championship.
To earn that eighth victory, the Bulldogs will have the opportunity of spoiling Senior Day in Alva as they face the rival Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State next Saturday at 2:00 pm.
