WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Football returns home this Saturday on Family Day in search of the first win of the 2023 season against East Central. The game has also been deemed the Flex-Chem Classic in partnership with SWOSU's corporate company sponsor, Flex-Chem. 

View Week Three Game Notes (pdf)

One guarantee: one side's interim head coach will acquire the first win of their career as both Ruzell McCoy and John Litrenta sit in similar circumstance at 0-2 and in first years serving as leaders of the program.

SWOSU last defeated ECU in 2019 in Weatherford by a final score of 24-21. Since the formation of the GAC, the Dawgs are 4-3 against the Tigers at home. All-time, East Central holds a 52-45-2 record against SWOSU in a series that dates all the way back to 1916. During SWOSU's Division II era since 1997, when the game is played in Weatherford the two sides are an even 7-7 against one another. 

East Central sits 0-2 on the year with losses to Henderson State on the road, 41-13, and Southern Arkansas at home, 24-17 in overtime. The Tigers feature a new head coach this season after 2022 first-year HC Kris McCullough moved on to coach at the University of Texas-Permian Basin. ECU ranks 11th in the GAC in scoring at 15.0 points per game and right above SWOSU in 10th at 276 yards of total offense per game. The offense runs through quarterback Traair Edwards who is ECU's leading passer and rusher in the early going of the new season. On defense, 2022 All-American and GAC Defensive Player of the Year linebacker Devin Roush anchors a defense that is allowing 32.5 points and 456 yards per game. He currently leads the GAC in tackles with 23.

The Bulldogs are looking to smooth out early season offensive woes after being held to 250 yards or under in two straight games. The last time SWOSU was held to 250 yards or less in two consecutive games came in 2018 when that streak lasted three weeks. It's not penalties or turnovers that's caused issues. SWOSU is averaging just 4.5 penalties a game and has only turned the ball over twice in two games, both coming last week at UAM.

SWOSU sits 12th in the GAC in first downs, averaging 11.0 per game, and naturally, holds the same conference ranking in time of possession. Last week, SWOSU did eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark after Kenny Graham busted off a 51-yard touchdown run on his only carry of the game in the fourth quarter. Ethane Hyche continues to get much of the work. He's carried 32 times for 127 yards (4.0 per) and has scored one touchdown.

Taylor Tosches caught three passes for 89 yards against UAM. His 43-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter was SWOSU's first receiving touchdown of the season.

SWOSU has scored a defensive touchdown in both games so far this season. Jeremiah Jones recovered a botched snap in the end zone against Ouachita and Chris Trufant had a pick-six against Monticello. The Dawgs are allowing 48.0 points per game in the young season and 462 yards of total offense. Both of those rank 11th in the GAC. Through week two, teams are converting third downs at a 50 percent clip. (15-for-30)

Linebacker duo Logan Monroe and Richard Silva continue to produce. Monroe sits third in the GAC with 21 tackles and right behind him is Silva with 18. Silva has notched two tackles for loss in each game so far in 2023. Logan Engle and RJ Powell lead the team with 1.5 sacks apiece.

SWOSU committed a turnover on the opening kickoff of the game in week two after muffing the return. Brandon McCary (0-1) is still looking for his first field goal of the season. Dayton Thrower is averaging almost 38 yards per punt in 16 attempts. His longest boot is 57 yards.