Box Score (html)
SHAWNEE, Okla. – Oklahoma Baptist scored a touchdown with 57 seconds remaining to defeat SWOSU 28-24 on Saturday afternoon at Crain Stadium in Shawnee.
Oklahoma Baptist scored the first 14 points of the game, taking a 14-0 lead with 11:35 to play in the second quarter. SWOSU's defense got a turnover on downs with 7:52 to play in the half, which got the Dawgs some momentum leading to a 44-yard touchdown run by
Karltrell Henderson on the next drive.
Colten Buie snagged an interception off of OBU's quarterback on the next drive and that set up another score for the Dawgs, a seven-yard score by Henderson that made it 14-14 at the half.
In the third quarter, OBU regained the lead after holding SWOSU on the opening drive before an 11-play touchdown drive was capped off with a 25-yard touchdown pass on fourth down, allowing the Bison to take a 21-14 lead to the fourth quarter.
SWOSU's first drive of the fourth quarter resulted in a 22-yard field goal from
Dalton Jackson, making it 21-17 with 11:53 to play. The Dawgs quickly got the ball back and drove 77 yard in eight plays to take the lead on a nine-yard touchdown pass from
Casey Freeman to
Jared Rayburn that put SWOSU up 24-21 with 6:36 remaining.
A quick three-and-out by SWOSU's defense got the ball back and allowed the Bulldog offense the chance to run the clock out with 5:30 to play. Four straight runs by Henderson had the Dawgs nearing midfield, but the ensuing play saw Freeman take off running and get stripped of the ball, which was recovered by Oklahoma Baptist at the SWOSU 40 with 2:30 to play.
OBU needed 1:33 to cash in on the turnover, getting an 18-yard pass play that got them down to the four-yard line and set up the game-winning four-yard touchdown run by Frankie Edwards with 57 seconds to play.
SWOSU's last chance never got any footing as Freeman was sacked on first down before incompletions on second and third down. After a Bulldog timeout,
Tyler Marr was on to face 4th and 14, but he was unable to find a receiver and ran out of time before being sacked by the Bison, who ensured their first victory of the season.
Highlighting the game was the effort of
Karltrell Henderson, who rushed for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns on the day, averaging 6.2 yards per carry over 29 rushing attempts. SWOSU's passing attack, however, was slowed again as
Casey Freeman managed just 83 yards and one touchdown on 12-of-26 passing.
Gerald White led the Bulldogs defensively with eight tackles (six solo, two assist) and one tackle for loss, while
BJ Kellogg,
Clay Wilkerson and
TJ Harris had seven tackles apiece. Kellogg and
Colten Buie each had interceptions for SWOSU.
The defeat drops the Bulldogs to 2-7 (2-7 GAC) on the year with two games remaining in the 2017 season. Next Saturday marks Homecoming at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, which will be highlighted by the football contest against Southern Nazarene that kicks off at 5:30 pm from ASAP Energy Field in Weatherford.
