SHAWNEE, Okla. – SWOSU Football trailed Oklahoma Baptist 31-20 on the road in the fourth quarter before scoring 11 unanswered points to force overtime. The Bulldogs went on to defeat the Bison 38-31 in the overtime period, snapping a 17-game win streak OBU carried against in-state opponents.
The win moves SWOSU back to an even 2-2 on the year heading into next week's home matchup with Arkansas-Monticello on Family Day.
Oklahoma Baptist had not lost a game to a school based out of Oklahoma since November 4, 2017. That streak was finally put to bed tonight, by the visiting Bulldogs.
It was a tight contest the entire way. No team led by more than one score until OBU extended their lead to 31-20 with 10:35 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The defense stepped up in a big way on Saturday. SWOSU ended the night with eight sacks after having seven through the first three games. Many of those came when the team needed it most, including a third-down sack in the fourth quarter when the Dawgs were fighting to get the ball back and on the comeback trail. OBU was held to 221 yards of total offense including just 19 yards rushing.
On offense, SWOSU had success on the ground all night and racked up 234 yards rushing on 56 attempts. The run opened up the pass, as the Dawgs still threw for over 200 yards and finished with 467 yards of total offense.
Gerald Palmer had a great game running the football. He finished with 24 rushes, 131 yards, and one touchdown to lead the way.
Troy Henderson notched 28 carries, 98 yards, and one touchdown.
Quarterback
Tylan Morton finished 26-38 through the air for 288 yards and two scores.
The Bulldogs led 17-10 in the first half before OBU scored right before halftime to keep things tied up at the break. SWOSU got a
Jaren Van Winkle field goal to open the game's scoring up, followed by touchdowns from
Cameron Hairston on a 47-yard reception and
Gerald Palmer on a 1-yard run to get to 17 points.
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Out of the halftime locker room, it was Van Winkle again for a 28-yard field goal to give the Dawgs a 20-17 lead with 10:35 to play in the third quarter.
From there, both teams' defenses tightened up and nobody would score the rest of the third quarter.
OBU took the lead with a long drive to start the fourth quarter that ended with a touchdown. Following a three-and-out from SWOSU with nothing doing, the Bison struck again on a 40-yard touchdown pass that put the margin at 31-20.
With 10:35 left in the game, the Dawgs dug in and did not go away.
SWOSU went on a 14 play, 75-yard drive to get back within one score that was capped off by a
Jalen Lampley touchdown reception from 28 yards out. Following the score, the Dawgs went for a two-point conversion and got it to inch within a field goal at 31-28.
The defense got off the field quick after three plays and got the ball back to the offense with 3:23 left to play in the game. Though they could not get the go-ahead touchdown, SWOSU kicked a game-tying field goal (Van Winkle) that forced overtime.
In the overtime period, SWOSU got the ball first and wasted no time. A 17-yard pass to
Isreal Watson put the Dawgs in business and three plays later SWOSU's
Troy Henderson punched it in from the one-yard line.
Defense took it from there.
Jameon Mitchell intercepted a pass on 2nd and 20 in the endzone to seal it. 38-31 Dawgs.
Mitchell ended the game with his interception, the only turnover on the night, and led the team in tackles with seven.
Rece Wilhelm finished with 2.0 sacks, followed by
Carter Norrie who had 1.5.
