Box Score (html)
ADA, Okla. – SWOSU scored on their third play of the game and never looked back as the Bulldogs dominated East Central in all phases to earn a 41-7 rivalry victory over the Tigers on Saturday evening at Norris Field.
After choosing to receive the opening kickoff, the Bulldogs needed just three plays before
Karltrell Henderson was off to the races for a 33-yard touchdown that made it 7-0 just 60 seconds into the game. From that point, the SWOSU defense forced two first-quarter fumbles that led to scores as the Dawgs built a 20-0 lead on a touchdown pass from
Marc Evans to
JR Omigie and another score from Henderson, this time from one yard out early in the second quarter.
East Central scored on a long touchdown pass two plays later to make it 20-7, but SWOSU had two extended scoring drives to round out the half. Evans found
Matt Farris for a touchdown for the second straight week, with the senior tight end capping off a nine-play, 83-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown reception. The Bulldogs next drive used up most of the clock in the first half, with SWOSU going 88 yards in 11 plays and going up 34-7 on a one-yard touchdown plunge by
Kenneth Martey.
Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, with SWOSU stopping East Central's best threat of the period when
Deric Robertson picked off Tiger quarterback Jackson Lamb's pass into the end zone. After two more stops by the Bulldogs, the offense went 59 yards in four plays and Evans found Farris again for a 21-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. SWOSU had three other drives, but used them to run out the clock in the fourth quarter and finish off their second straight victory.
SWOSU finished the game with 625 yards of offense, including 382 passing yards and 243 yards on the ground and the Bulldogs had an advantage in time of possession (35:25-to-24:27) for the first time this season. The swarming defense held East Central to 272 yards of total offense, including four yards rushing on 15 attempts.
Marc Evans finished the game 22-for-31 passing for a season-high 357 yards and three touchdowns. His top target was
D.J. Jones, who had seven receptions for 112 yards while Omigie and Farris were both the benefactors of his touchdown passes.
Karltrell Henderson rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while
Sheldon Wilson had 80 yards on 11 carries and
Kenneth Martey totaled one touchdown and 40 yards on his 10 carries.
Conner Bays led the Bulldogs with eight tackles and one pass breakup on defense, while
Deric Robertson and
Quinton Gale each had interceptions. The Dawgs had seven tackles for loss, led by
Clinton Horn who had 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack and
Dustin Johnson who finished with 2.0 sacks.
"I'm so proud of these guys for coming on the road and playing as well as we did to get a conference victory," SWOSU Head Coach
Dan Cocannouer said following the game. "I think we came to play with some momentum after last week and we can continue to build on this win as well. We're going to enjoy this one tonight and then we'll move on and start getting ready for the next game tomorrow."
SWOSU is now 2-4 (2-4 GAC) on the year with back-to-back victories heading into a trip to Bethany next Saturday to face Southern Nazarene.
