RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Football fell 22-21 to Arkansas Tech at the buzzer after the Wonder Boys connected on a walk off 44-yard field goal as time expired to steal the win.
It is the third consecutive year these two teams have played a one-point ballgame. SWOSU has lost all three.
The Dawgs needed to gain just one yard to ice the game a few minutes of real time prior. The offense faced fourth down and one with a little over a minute remaining in the contest. A first down would have all but sealed the victory, but instead, Tech's defense held firm to force the turnover on downs and extend the game.
With 1:16 remaining, the Wonder Boys drove 32 yards down the field and got close enough for their senior kicker to knock it home on Senior Day.
Final numbers showed Arkansas Tech outgaining SWOSU 499-341 (yards) in total offense. Despite the yardage numbers, the Bulldogs were opportunistic on defense. They forced three turnovers – two of those in the redzone to prevent scores – and did not allow a red zone touchdown in the contest.
It is the second time this season SWOSU forced three takeaways.
Quarterback Tylan Morton finished 20-37 for 254 yards and with one interception, snapping a seven-game streak of throwing a touchdown pass.
Unlike ATU, SWOSU scored touchdowns in all three of their red zone opportunities. Gerald Palmer punched in a pair of scores, and Dexter Brown added the other.
Morton, Palmer, and Brown combined to rush for 97 yards collectively on the afternoon.
Jalen Lampley led all SWOSU pass catchers with seven grabs for 87 yards, edging Isreal Watson by one catch and one yard. Deshon Moreaux caught four balls for 61 yards.
SWOSU led 14-10 at halftime and 21-19 at the end of the third quarter.
Things were looking good out of the halftime locker room after the Dawgs put together a seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive to lead 21-10. It would be their only score of the second half though. Tech answered with a touchdown immediately after to keep the game close but missed the extra point. They added another field goal before quarter's end, and went on to get the lone points of the fourth quarter in dramatic, game-winning fashion.
Tech was threatening late in the fourth quarter in the red zone with just under 5:00 to play in the game and trailing 21-19. Shane Andrews' first and goal tackle on an ATU running back sent the football flying into the endzone which found the hands of a recovering Treymon Fullwood. It was nearly the game-winning difference maker.
Fullwood and Andrews were both a part of two takeaways in the contest. Fullwood intercepted a pass at midfield in the first quarter, while Andrews caught his first pick of the season in the end zone to prevent a late third quarter touchdown by the Wonder Boys.
Andrews led the team with 10 tackles (7s-3a) followed by Carter Norrie and Keldric Martin with nine apiece.
The loss moves SWOSU to 3-6 on the season with two games remaining in the regular season. The Bulldogs will welcome a nationally ranked Harding team to Weatherford next weekend for SWOSU Saturday.
Kickoff against the No. 21/17 Bisons next Saturday (11/5) is set for 2pm.
