WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Football defeated Arkansas-Monticello 37-27 on Family Day and are now winners in back-to-back weeks to move over the .500 mark for the first time all season.
The Bulldogs are now a perfect 5-0 all-time against the Boll Weevils in Weatherford.
After trailing 7-0 out of the gate, the Bulldogs responded with a first quarter touchdown to tie things up and a second quarter field goal to take the lead – then did not trail the rest of the way and led by as many as 16 points in the contest.
This is the first time this season SWOSU has won a game after scoring second. Previously, the Dawgs were 0-2 when playing from behind in the first quarter.
The defense allowed just 146 yards in the first half and held the third leading rushing team in the conference to seven yards on the ground and kept them under 100 for the game. It was the first time this season Monticello did not get to 100 yards rushing in a game.
SWOSU also won the turnover battle 3-2, with the lone legitimate turnover on a an opening drive fumble. The other coming on a halftime heave to the end zone.
A 78-yard busted play started the scoring off in the first quarter. UAM's Demilon Brown, a two-time GAC Player of the Week already this season, connected on a 20-yard pass to an open wide receiver slanting receiver who took it nearly untouched the rest of the way for the score.
SWOSU answered right back though. Six plays into the drive, Tylan Morton threw a deep ball to Isreal Watson who hauled it in for a 54-yard pass and catch. Two plays later, the Dawgs scored on a three-yard pass to Jacob Karsak. No team scored the rest of the opening quarter after stops from both defenses.
In the second quarter, Van Winkle's 30-yard field goal made things 10-7 and Morton scrambled his way into the endzone on an eight-yard run nearing halftime to put SWOSU up two scores. Meanwhile, the defense stood firm and did not allow any points in the quarter. Trailing 17-7, UAM tried to cut into the lead before halftime but was denied thanks to an Ashton Hamby interception.
In the second half, both sides picked things up offensively and points started to show up.
Late in the third quarter, the Boll Weevils cut into the lead with a 12-play drive ending with a touchdown. The score could have turned the momentum, but SWOSU answered right back with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Deshon Moreaux after missed tackles allowed him to keep his feet and run for the score. UAM blocked the extra point, but SWOSU led 23-14 after the third quarter.
Both sides scores two touchdowns each in the fourth quarter. Monticello kept things interesting with an early score, but SWOSU pushed the lead back out on back-to-back touchdown drives sandwiched between an interception from Sean Shelby. Moreaux caught his second touchdown of the game prior to the pick, followed by Gerald Palmer running it in from six yards out after. Now up 16 with 4:06 to play, it was all but over.
The Boll Weevils got a score back but missed the two-point conversion to get to a one-score game. Down 10, they recovered an onside kick but were battling the clock with nearly a minute to play in the game.
Back-to-back sacks by Rece Wilhelm and Richard Silva, followed by a Derrius Franklin interception put the game to bed. Final: 37-27.
Morton finished 26-36 for 358 yards and three scores. His top two targets, Watson and Moreaux, combined for 223 yards receiving and both turned in 100-plus yard days. Jalen Lampley added 90 yards receiving on a team high seven catches.
Palmer got 19 touches for a team high 71 yards and a score. Morton added 64 yards and his rushing touchdown, accounting for four total scores on the afternoon.
SWOSU racked up a season high 522 yards on offense.
Defensively, Silva led the team with 10 tackles followed by Treymon Fullwood with nine. SWOSU turned in six more sacks on the afternoon, a follow up from eight the week before.
SWOSU will now get tested on the road with a top-10 matchup with Ouachita looming next weekend. The Tigers entered this week ranked No. 6 & 4 in the nation's two media polls and won again today to move to 5-0 on the year. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for noon in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
