BETHANY, Okla. – The Bulldogs were unable to overcome costly errors in all three phases of the game and they are defeated on the road 30-22 against Southern Nazarene.
 
The game could not have started any worse for SWOSU. On the opening kickoff, Southern Nazarene's Josh Johnson returned the kick 99 yards to give the advantage to the Crimson Storm right from the jump.
 
As they've done time and time again this year, this team got up off the mat and battled. The very next drive the Bulldogs drove down the field and scored. A balanced attack highlighted by a Tanner Griffin 31-yard pass to Justin Bailey led to a one-yard touchdown run for Ethan Hyche, his first collegiate touchdown.
 
Back to back scoring drives in the second quarter were capped off by touchdowns from Kenny Graham and Anthony Love to give SWOSU a 19-14 lead late in the half. The SWOSU defense found its groove in the second quarter as well, holding the Southern Nazarene offense to just 35 total yards and no points. An RJ Powell sack on third down forced a punt and that led to the second SWOU touchdown of the quarter.
 
The defense then stopped the Crimson Storm on fourth down with only forty seconds left in the half. As time was about to expire, a Tanner Griffin pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown to give Southern Nazarene the lead halfway through the game.
 
The second half started brightly for the Bulldogs. SWOSU's defensive line did a good job in the pass rush throughout the night, and on Southern Nazarene's first offensive possession that work paid off in a big way. Junior defensive lineman Nate Burnard got to the quarterback on third down and forced a fumble that he also recovered to give the Bulldogs great field position on the Crimson Storm's 18-yard line. The field position would turn into three points and a lead once again for SWOSU.
 
It would be all Crimson Strom from that point on however. As the issues that have plagued SWOSU all season continued to rear their ugly head. A total of only 40 yards in the second half from the Bulldog offense wasn't enough to hold their lead, and Southern Nazarene would score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take the lead and put the game away.
 
Special teams mishaps made life more difficult for the Bulldogs time and time again on Thursday night. A mishandled extra point, a missed field goal, and multiple mismanaged kickoffs cost SWOSU points and field position.
 
The team will have to regroup and use the extra time to get ready for East Central next Saturday, October 23 back in Weatherford at 2:00 pm.