WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Football erased a 17-point halftime deficit and took the lead with 21 unanswered points, but Southeastern Oklahoma State scored with nine seconds remaining to escape Flex-Chem Field with a 27-21 win Saturday night.
The Bulldogs transformed the game after halftime. SWOSU scored on its first two possessions of the third quarter and used a takeaway to move ahead early in the fourth, turning a 17-0 deficit into a 21-17 advantage.
The Dawgs remained in front until a blocked punt resulted in a safety midway through the final quarter. Their defense then preserved the two-point lead by blocking a field goal with 2:18 remaining, but Southeastern capitalized on one final opportunity and drove 80 yards for the winning score.
Turnovers put SWOSU in its early hole despite a strong performance from the Bulldog defense. The Dawgs limited Southeastern to 302 total yards and held the Savage Storm to 4-of-18 on third down, but four SWOSU turnovers led to 17 points.
Southeastern turned an interception into a field goal for the only points of the opening quarter, then extended its lead with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second.
SWOSU created an opportunity midway through the quarter when Keshaun Jackson intercepted Levay Duncan, but the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize. Another turnover proved costly on their next possession when the Savage Storm returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown, sending SWOSU to halftime trailing 17-0.
The Bulldogs returned from the break with an immediate response.
Charles Mutter broke loose for a 39-yard run on the second play of the half, and Red Martel finished the 75-yard drive with a 34-yard touchdown run to put SWOSU on the board.
After another defensive stop, the Bulldogs threatened again but were turned away on fourth down at the Southeastern 20-yard line. SWOSU quickly regained possession and needed only four plays to cut further into the deficit. Knox Dyson connected with Marcus Dockins Jr. for 42 yards to open the drive before finding DeAndre Beasley for an 8-yard touchdown that made it 17-14.
Special teams kept the margin at three later in the third quarter when Jaylen Niedo blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt.
SWOSU completed the comeback moments into the fourth. Jackson recovered a Southeastern fumble at the Savage Storm 17-yard line, and Martel scored from the same distance two plays later to give the Bulldogs a 21-17 lead.
The advantage held until Southeastern blocked a punt through the end zone for a safety with 6:28 remaining. Following the free kick, the Savage Storm drove into scoring range, but Malcolm Murphy blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt to protect SWOSU's 21-19 lead with 2:18 to play.
The Bulldogs could not pick up a first down on the ensuing possession, leaving Southeastern one final opportunity. Starting from its own 20-yard line with 1:35 remaining, the Savage Storm moved the length of the field and scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left. Duncan added the two-point conversion to produce the final margin.
SWOSU finished with 256 yards of offense, including 179 on the ground. Martel led the Bulldogs with 87 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, while Mutter added 73 yards on nine attempts. Together, the two averaged nearly nine yards per carry.
Dyson completed 5-of-15 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. Dockins led the receiving corps with 45 yards on two catches, while Beasley caught SWOSU's lone touchdown through the air.
Jackson delivered a career night to lead the Bulldog defense, finishing with a game-high 15 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Delmontre Pryor added eight tackles, while Justus Conway finished with six. SWOSU also recorded seven quarterback hurries and broke up four passes.
SWOSU (0-3) will play on the road each of the next two weekends before returning to Flex-Chem Field on Saturday, October 10 to host Southern Arkansas.
