WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Football earned its best win of the 2025 season on Saturday, defeating East Central 38-14 in front of a strong Homecoming crowd at Flex-Chem Field.
East Central entered the matchup 5-2 but was limited by the Bulldog defense to just 237 yards of total offense. It marked SWOSU's third straight game holding an opponent under 300 total yards and the second fewest allowed this season.
Outside of two long scoring plays on passes of 74 and 55 yards, the Tigers struggled to find any rhythm against the Dawg defense. After ECU's opening touchdown just two plays into the game, the Tigers were forced to punt or turned the ball over on downs on eight consecutive possessions stretching into the fourth quarter. Following their second and final score, SWOSU sealed the game with an interception and another fourth-down stop. ECU finished just 1-of-12 on third down.
Offensively, the Bulldogs racked up 453 total yards, highlighted by a season-best 259 through the air. SWOSU caught four touchdown passes on the day — three of them from
Baylor Nash, who tied the program's Division II-era single-game record for receiving touchdowns. Nash found the end zone in the first, third, and fourth quarters.
Quarterback
MJ Rivers was sharp once again, completing 13-of-15 passes for 227 yards, with four touchdowns and no turnovers.
On the ground, SWOSU ran the ball 55 times for 194 yards.
Red Martel led the way with 17 carries for 68 yards and a five-yard touchdown just before halftime — his third rushing score of the season.
After ECU jumped out to a 7-0 lead, SWOSU answered immediately with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 34-yard touchdown grab from
Isaac Norris. From there, the Bulldogs never trailed again.
Ethan McBee's 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter made it 17-7 before Martel's touchdown extended the margin to 24-7 at halftime. In the second half, Rivers and Nash connected for two more scores — from 29 and 46 yards out — as SWOSU reeled off 38 unanswered points before ECU finally broke through late.
Defensively,
Zack Roberts led the charge with eight tackles and an interception.
Kelton Moore added five tackles, including two tackles for loss, and a sack fumble. Four different Bulldogs recorded sacks against the Tigers' quarterback.
The win improves SWOSU to 4-4 on the season — matching its 2022 win total with three games remaining. The Bulldogs are now within reach of their first five-win season since 2016 and first winning record since 2015.
Next up, SWOSU heads east for its longest road trip of the year to face Arkansas-Monticello. Kickoff against the Boll Weevils is set for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1.
