Box Score (html)
 
ADA, Okla. – In a game that featured just one offensive touchdown, the SWOSU Football team suffered their third defeat of the season, falling 18-11 to East Central on Saturday night at Norris Field in Ada.
 
The Bulldogs scored first, going up 3-0 with a 31-yard field goal from Ryan Buchanan with 7:19 to play in the first quarter. SWOSU had two other attempts at field goals in the opening frame, but one was missed wide while the other got blocked and kept the Dawgs from adding to the lead.
 
East Central had a short field early in the second quarter and converted, going 46 yards in 11 plays to score a touchdown and take a 6-3 lead after the extra point failed. CJ Jennings took the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards for a touchdown that appeared to be the answer, but SWOSU was flagged for holding on the play, taking points off the board. Two drives later, ECU sacked Bulldog quarterback Casey Freeman in the end zone for a safety, which gave the Tigers an 8-3 lead at halftime.
 
The momentum play of the game in favor of the Bulldogs came midway through the third quarter as Jalen Carr intercepted a pass by ECU quarterback David Cornwell at the SWOSU eight-yard line. Carr quickly changed direction and headed towards the Tigers end zone and broke away for the 92-yard pick-six. After Tyler Marr carried the two-point conversion into the end zone, SWOSU had an 11-8 lead with 7:52 to play in the third.
 
SWOSU's defense carried that momentum into another stop, but the offense could not cash in and were forced to punt late in the third. Kane Bowen was unable to get off a clean punt, with ECU blocking the kick and returning it for a touchdown to regain the lead with 3:05 to play in the quarter. The Tigers added a field goal early in the fourth and stopped the Dawgs on three drives in the fourth quarter to hold on for the victory.
 
The defense carried the night for SWOSU, holding East Central to 181 yards of total offense and getting points on the board with Carr's interception return – the first pick-six by a Bulldog player since Conner Bays against Oklahoma Baptist in 2015. A trio of Bulldogs led the way with six tackles apiece – including Clay Wilkerson, Jonathan Harris and Dejai Johnson.
 
SWOSU managed 214 yards of total offense, getting 120 yards through the air as Casey Freeman completed 14-of-29 passing attempts. Jaden Knowles and Zach Hill hauled in a team-leading three receptions each while JR Omigie had two catches for 42 yards. Knowles also led the way on the ground, carrying the ball 18 times for 85 yards.
 
"We made too many mistakes tonight, we can't have those kind of penalties and we have to play smarter," SWOSU Head Coach Chet Pobolish said following the game. "I've always said the scoreboard shows where we're at, and we're not a good enough football team to make those mistakes. We have to get better and I know our guys will keep working hard."
 
SWOSU falls to 2-3 with the loss and they'll be back in action next Saturday (Oct. 6) at ASAP Energy Field against Southeastern Oklahoma State.