WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Football collected a 50-0 victory over Northwestern in the season finale to earn a third win in the final weekend of the 2024 season.
It's the first shutout in over two decades, dating back to September 14, 2002 when they held Panhandle State scoreless in a 15-0 win. Saturday's result also represents the largest margin of victory and the first time scoring 50 or more points since 2015.
The win is repayment for last year's 41-0 defeat in Alva.
The offense racked up a season high 438 yards, led by a passing attack that averaged nearly 22 yards per completion. Tate Robards, who was honored prior to the game for Senior Day, finished 13-for-26 for 285 yards through the air and a season high three touchdowns. He accounted for five total scores in the game, thanks to a pair of short rushing scores in the second half. After throwing a pick on the opening drive, he settled in to give his best performance in his final game.
The defense limited the Rangers to 227 yards and held them to 1-of-13 on third downs, forcing eight punts and four turnovers in the game.
SWOSU jumped ahead 14-0 in the first quarter thanks to a pair of touchdown connections from Tate Robards to Elijah Reed from 62 and 22 yards out. Reed caught four balls in the game for 102 yards to lead the receiving corps. The 14-0 score held until the third quarter when the Bulldog defense made its presence known.
In total, the defense came away with three turnovers in the third quarter which started on the opening drive after halftime when Zack Roberts picked off a pass by the sideline.
Dante Dean then busted off a 43-yard rushing touchdown to get SWOSU back on the board. The run was SWOSU's longest rushing touchdown of the season. Dean finished with 17 carries for 121 yards and his score. One play later on defense, senior Logan Monroe tackled a Ranger ball carrier which forced the ball out and into James Thomas' hands who ran it in from 26 yards out for another quick score.
Monroe matched his career high with 13 tackles, was in on a sack, forced a fumble, and had one hurry in his last game wearing Bulldog blue.
Desmond Greene intercepted his seventh pass of the season later in the third which set SWOSU up for touchdown number three of the quarter. He returned it 22 yards inside Northwestern's 20 and got further help from a penalty which put the ball inside the 10. Three plays later, Robards ran it in to make the score 35-0 in the closing minute of the quarter.
SWOSU got two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter – another short Robards run from one yard away and a 22-yard pass to Baylor Nash in the closing minute to cap the scoring.
Senior Michael Arceneaux II became the seventh Bulldog this season to intercept a pass when he grabbed a ball in the end zone to deter a Ranger score in the fourth quarter.
10 seniors in total were honored prior the day's start. Those who have played their final game at SWOSU included: Robards, Monroe, Arceneaux, Mason Daugherty, Sean Shelby, Timirance Adams, Caden Culver, Isaac Foster, Daniel Ballinger, and Johnny Scales.
