Bulldogs Hope to Keep Rolling

September 7, 2006

WEATHERFORD -- Southwestern Oklahoma State has reason to believe that much has changed since its last football meeting against Midwestern State. The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s home opener against the Mustangs riding a new wave of enthusiasm after a stunning 23-16 overtime victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on the road.

The win against Kingsville ranks among the biggest football wins in school history. The Javelinas had won the Lone Star Conference a record 24 times and the Bulldogs had lost 19 of their last 21 games, including the last 10 straight.

Still a measure of business remains for the Bulldogs and its fiery young coach Ryan Held and that is a chance to avenge last season’s 49-0 whipping by Midwestern State in front of a large, supportive home crowd.

“We don’t dwell on the past here,” Held said. “But, a lot of our guys remember the Midwestern game a year ago. I think we got a bit of a chip on our shoulders and need to go out and earn a measure of respect.”

MSU defeated Langston University, an Oklahoma NAIA school, 34-28 in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Mustangs led 21-0 and survived a late-scare by the Lions as Langston closed to within five points late in the fourth quarter.

Running back Ross Harrison was the offensive standout for the Mustangs rushing for 113 yards on 17 carries. He is the second-leading ground gainer in school history with 1,975 yards.

SWOSU will counter with 11 new offensive starters, none of which played for the Bulldogs in 2005. Headlining the group is quarterback Jimmy Sangster, (6-5, 255, Jr., Atlanta, Mo.) Sangster is a mammoth signal caller who can absorb and dish out substantial punishment. He threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns against Kingsville.

His primary target appears to be wide receiver Johnathan Haggerty (6-3, 175, Fr., Dallas, Texas). In his first collegiate game, Haggerty caught three passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yarder that gave the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead against TAMUK.

Defensively, SWOSU has the reigning LSC North Division player-of-the-week in linebacker Greg Franklin (6-0, 230, So., Midwest City). Franklin had 11 tackles and led a Bulldog defense that forced Kingsville to punt on its first four possessions. On the Javelina’s fifth possession, Franklin and his teammates forced TAMUK to turn the ball over on downs inside the SWOSU 10-yard line.