Bulldogs Bested by SOSU, 35-7

October 14, 2006

DURANT – Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s search for a football win over rival Southeastern Oklahoma State University will  wait yet another year as the Bulldogs were beaten 35-7 in Durant Saturday. The loss was Bulldog’s fifth straight in a series which they’ve been outscored by a margin of 210-53 in that span.

SWOSU is now 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the Lone Star Conference North Division. SOSU, the two-time defending division champ, is 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the division.

SOSU quarterback Justin Pitrucha threw for 319 yards and one touchdown while the Savage Storm kept the Bulldogs offense in check. SWOSU did not score an offensive touchdown and managed just 236 yards and turned the ball over twice.

Although the game turned out to be lopsided, it didn’t appear that way from the beginning. SWOSU tied the score at 7-7 when cornerback Desmond Baker stepped in front of a Pitrucha pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown with 7:07 remaining in the first quarter.

SWOSU quarterback Jimmy Sangster threw for 128 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third for the Bulldogs. SWOSU used five different running backs to chew up 162 yards on the ground and ended up the game having the ball for nine minutes more and running 11 more plays than the Redmen.

SOSU answered on their next drive marching down the field 74 yards on 14 plays and finished when Pitrucha found a Brian Fontenette on a short scoring toss.

SWOSU then took over and began moving back down the field advancing into Southeastern territory when disaster struck. SWOSU Quarterback Jimmy Sangster was intercepted by Willie Summers who returned it 69 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the first quarter. SOSU’s lead was 21-7.

The storm had not yet passed as on the Bulldogs very next play Sangster was intercepted by Andrew Knight who returned the ball to the SWOSU 17-yard line. Five plays later the margin was 28-7 when Sean Cooper scored from three yards. The outcome had pretty much been decided with 12:36 to play before halftime.

The Bulldogs had two golden scoring opportunities in the second half but were unable to capitalize on either of them.

Opportunity number one came when Greg Franklin and Steven Strobel combined on a 15-yard sack of Pitrucha and forced a fumble. Devin McCrory fell on the loose ball and the Bulldogs had possession at the Southeastern 15. The Bulldogs moved to the seven, but running back Reshard Dudley was brought down in the backfield on a fourth-and-two play and the ball was turned over on downs.

The second scoring opportunity came late in the game. Sangster either rushed or passed on 17 of the next 18 plays and had the Bulldogs knocking at the door at the Savage Storm three-yard line. However, his fouth-and-two pass fell incomplete and again SWOSU was turned away by the Southeastern defense.

SWOSU will return home Saturday to play Northeastern State University in a divisional matchup. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.