Bulldogs Fall 41-14 at Unbeaten WTAM

September 17, 2005

Canyon, TX - Southwestern Oklahoma State provided a courageous effort against unbeaten West Texas A&M, limiting the high-scoring Buffs to just one field goal over the game’s final 30 minutes. However, a destructive first half was too much to overcome as WTAM defeated SWOSU, 41-14, in a Lone Star Conference football game Saturday at Canyon, Texas.

SWOSU (1-3) played perhaps its best stretch of football this season in quarters three and four. SWOSU outscored the Buffs 7-3 during that time thanks to a 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Bulldog linebacker Michael Hart on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Hart’s score cut WTAM’s lead to 38-14 but the ‘Dawgs could not come up with any more.

“This is a positive we can build upon,” coach Ryan Held said. “I challenged our guys to give it all they had for 60 minutes and that’s what we did. This game could’ve been 80-7 if our kids would’ve quit. They didn’t. They fought back. A couple plays here and a couple of plays there and your looking at a much different ball game.”

Perhaps the biggest back breaker for SWOSU was allowing WTAM’s Joel Harris to get loose for a 47-yard touchdown run on the final play of the first half. Prior to Harris’ score WTAM led 31-7 and had watched the Bulldogs creep back into the game.

SWOSU’s lone offensive score had come moments earlier when Will Freeman scored on a two-yard run that culminated a eight-play, 79-yard drive, cutting WTAM’s lead to 28-7. The highlight on the drive was a season-long, 42-yard pass from quarterback Steve Day to Danny Howard.

WTAM answered with a 25-yard Jacob Felton field goal to boost its margin to 31-7 with 1:36 to play. The TD run of Harris was preceded by a 22-yard pass completion in which the Buffs moved 69 yards and needed just two plays and 15 seconds to score.

SWOSU was led offensively by Day who threw for a season-best 120 yards while completing eight-of-20 passes. Wide receiver Chase Pratt had five catches for 75 yards for the Bulldogs.

SWOSU will next be in action when they meet Tarleton State University Saturday, Sept. 24 for a Homecoming matchup. Gametime is set for 6 p.m. at Milam Stadium.