WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Football answered every Arkansas-Monticello score in the first half, then leaned on its defense and rushing attack after halftime to secure a 37-21 Homecoming victory Saturday at Flex-Chem Field.
The Bulldogs scored the final 23 points and held UAM scoreless over its final seven possessions. The win was SWOSU's third straight and fourth in the past five games, bringing the Bulldogs back to .500 at 4-4 after an 0-3 start.
SWOSU produced season highs of 499 total yards and 360 rushing yards while averaging seven yards per play. The rushing total was the fifth-highest single-game mark of the program's NCAA Division II era, with all five Bulldog touchdowns coming on the ground.
Charles Mutter led the way with 147 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. His performance included a 56-yard touchdown before halftime and a 64-yard run that set up another score in the fourth quarter.
UAM turned a first-quarter fumble into the game's opening points, driving 82 yards in six plays and scoring on a 4-yard run.
Dante Dean answered for SWOSU by capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7.
The Weevils continued to find success through the air, using touchdown passes of 74 and 15 yards to regain the lead twice during the second quarter. SWOSU responded both times.
Red Martel finished a 76-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown to make it 14-14, and after UAM moved back ahead with 3:01 remaining, Mutter broke free for a 56-yard score less than a minute later to send the game into halftime tied at 21-21.
The Bulldogs changed the game defensively after the break. UAM gained 294 yards in the first half but was limited to 65 yards and three first downs across seven scoreless second-half possessions.
SWOSU took its first lead midway through the third quarter after
Christian Clarke pinned the Weevils at their own 10-yard line. Two plays later, a bad snap resulted in a safety and a 23-21 Bulldog advantage.
The game flipped early in the fourth quarter with UAM driving inside the SWOSU 20 and threatening to reclaim the lead.
Kelton Moore forced a fumble that
Keshaun Jackson recovered, and Mutter raced 64 yards on the next snap. Two plays later,
Kannin Boswell scored from 18 yards out for his first touchdown of the season, turning a potential go-ahead UAM drive into a two-possession SWOSU advantage at 30-21.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, SWOSU put the game away with a seven-play, 55-yard drive.
Keith Rockwell powered his way for a 29-yard run during the possession before Mutter scored from two yards out to complete the Bulldogs' run of 23 unanswered points.
Martel finished with 65 yards and a touchdown, Rockwell added 52 yards and Dean supplied 47 yards and a score.
Braxton Etheridge completed 9-of-18 passes for 139 yards without an interception, with
Baylor Nash and
Matthew Young each recording 47 receiving yards.
Madox Sekyere led the defense with 11 tackles. Moore totaled seven tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup, while
Maddux Boyd added six stops.
Keith Hargraves and
Jeremiah Flores each recorded a sack.
SWOSU travels to Arkadelphia next Saturday to face Ouachita Baptist at 1 p.m.
