WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU and Southern Nazarene combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense on Saturday, but it was the Crimson Storm who came out on top over the Bulldogs 45-38 to spoil Homecoming.
The loss drops the Dawgs back to 3-4 on the season. SWOSU has now lost three of the last four matchups with SNU dating back to 2018.
Both offenses totaled over 500 yards in the contest. Southern Nazarene edged the Bulldogs 565-524, which included a pair of 200-plus yard rushers from quarterback and running back. SWOSU's attack was more balanced thanks to 283 yards through the air and another 51 on the ground from Tylan Morton and three running backs who totaled 190 yards.
The game did not start how SWOSU would have like when SNU's running back took it 75 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage.
The Dawgs managed a 10-7 lead though by the end of the first quarter, before a pair of SNU touchdowns and a safety in the second quarter gave the visitors a 23-10 lead at halftime.
Trailing 30-10 in the third quarter, the resilient Bulldogs did not go away. They clawed all the way back to tie the game at 38-38 with 5:26 to play in the game but got delivered a dagger shortly thereafter.
With all momentum favoring the Bulldogs after an SNU fumble got cashed into the game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion, the defense had SNU at third and 10 in need of one stop to get the ball back and keep the momentum needle fully towards SWOSU. Instead, quarterback Gage Porter got loose out of the pocket and scrambled for 58 yards to the SWOSU 21-yard line. They scored the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown three plays later.
SWOSU got the ball back with 1:03 left to play and had a chance but was unable to go the length of the field before time ran out. Final, 45-38.
Morton finished 23-39 and threw for two scores to Isreal Watson.
Watson finished with eight receptions and 94 yards receiving, edged only by Deshon Moreaux who caught 10 balls for 126 yards.
Gerald Palmer ran the ball 14 times for 75 yards. Troy Henderson 11 times for 66 yards, and Dexter Brown eight times for 49 yards.
Keldric Martin, SWOSU's leading tackler on the year, added 13 more tonight.
Per SNU's sports information department, the 524 rushing yards they racked up is a school record.
The Bulldogs will look to refocus against East Central (5-2) next Saturday, on the road in Ada. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 2pm.
