SWOSU Set to Face Southeastern in Football

October 19, 2005

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State has plans to wreck rival Southeastern Oklahoma State’s bid for a second straight Lone Star Conference North division crown when the two football teams meet Saturday at Milam Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The Bulldogs, now 1-7 on the year, will try to apply the brakes to a SOSU team that has been one of the hottest in the league, winning four straight contests. The Savages (5-2) took over the North top spot after a 24-23 beating of Texas A&M-Commerce in Durant last week.

“They (Southeastern) are not as flashy as they’ve been in the past, but they are a sound football team that finds ways to win,” SWOSU coach Ryan Held said. “They’ve gotten good play out of their freshman quarterback and have put up some big numbers offensively.”

SWOSU will need to continue the momentum of an improving offense while cutting back on turnovers for their best chance of winning. The Bulldogs have averaged nearly 350 yards of offense in each of their last three games, after netting just 165 yards an outing in the first five games.

While the Bulldogs have moved the ball better as of late, turnovers have proved to be the team’s undoing in the last two games. SWOSU has turned the ball over seven times in the span, after only having 10 through the season’s first six games.

The Bulldogs have relied on two quarterbacks – Steve Day and Beau Dodson – to lead the offensive charge. Day has accumulated for 833 yards and three touchdowns while Dodson has added 502 yards through the air and one touchdown.

Both quarterbacks stand to benefit if the Bulldogs are able to run the ball like they have the last two weeks. SWOSU has rushed for more than 100 yards as a team in each game, including a season-best 153 yards last week against Missouri Rolla. Terry Sampson (66 yards) and Steve Ihekona (61 yards) combined for 127 yards on 30 carries against UMR.

SOSU will counter offensively with quarterback Justin Pitrucha. The true freshman has done a commendable job in the replacement of graduated all-American Drew Beard. He has completed 60 percent of his passes and has thrown for 11 touchdowns while averaging 255 yards a game through the air.

SWOSU’s defense will be tested as the Savages are third in the league in scoring offense averaging just over 30 points a game and third in total offense at 400 yards per outing. The Bulldogs have held their last two opponents to under 300 yards a game and limited Missouri-Rolla to just 68 yards through the air.

Linebacker Michael Hart has taken over the team lead in tackles with 62 while defensive back Tommy Musa has made several big plays from his safety spot.