SWOSU Falls Short to Texans, 21-19

September 30, 2006

Jimmy Sangster

WEATHERFORD -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University pushed Tarleton State University to the edge but could not deliver the knockout blow, losing 21-19 to the visiting Texans in a football game Saturday night in Weatherford.

SWOSU fought back from a 21-10 halftime hole and had an opportunity to win the game late but a fourth-quarter interception of Bulldog quarterback Jimmy Sangster ended the comeback hope. SWOSU fell to 2-3 with the loss while the Texans won for the first time in four games.

Bulldog return specialist Patrick Weaver was the offensive star for SWOSU. He had 173 all-purpose yards including an electrifying 79-yard punt return to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Weaver set up SWOSU with its final chance returning a punt 53 yards to the Tarleton 29 with 1:59 to play. Trailing 21-19, the Bulldogs ran once and Sangster threw an incomplete pass before being picked of by Tarleton defensive back Vernon Smith at the Texans’ 28-yard line.

Patrick Weaver

SWOSU got back in the game thanks to a Tarleton miscue when the Texans bobbled a punt and special teams star Todd Crumb fell on the ball at the TSU three-yard line. The Bulldogs needed four downs but Sangster scored on a quarterback keeper to draw the Bulldogs to within two at 21-19 with 4:33 to play.

The Bulldogs elected to go for two after Sangster’s score. Weaver was dragged down short on the endzone, and Tarleton kept its advantage at 21-19.

SWOSU defensively played well shutting out the Texans in the second half. Tarleton had only 101 yards of offense in the second half and finished the game with 310 yards and turned the ball over twice.

Ruzell McCoy finished with a game-high 12 tackles while teammate Falante Hill was next with six to lead SWOSU.

Offensively, SWOSU was held in check on the ground only netting 76 yards. The Bulldogs did find some success through the air on the Sangster-to-Johnathan Haggerty combination. The two combined on nine pass-and-catch plays for 103 yards.

SWOSU will next play at home against Missouri Rolla on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Milam Field.