Bulldogs Blanket NSU, 32-6

October 21, 2006

WEATHERFORD – Southwestern Oklahoma State University may have had a few questions of just how good its defense was but after a 32-6 dominating win over rival Northeastern State University any doubts have been firmly erased.

SWOSU, who entered the game smarting from a 35-6 against loss last week to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, bottled up the Redmen and limited NSU to just 80 yards of total offense and two yards rushing. The yardage figure was the lowest any Lone Star Conference team has held its opponent this year.

“That’s great,” SWOSU coach Ryan held beamed. “I didn’t know really what to expect today considering the (windy) conditions. This win is important and will give us some things to take into homecoming against UCO.”

The Bulldogs evened their record at 4-4 on the year and are 1-1 in the LSC North. NSU dipped to 3-5 and 2-1 in division play.

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.

SWOSU carried a 16-0 lead after Sangster scored on a three-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Redmen then awoke from their game-long slumber to march 59 yards on seven plays and scored on a 29-yard pass from quarterback Joe Hogan to Jarrett Byers. The point after run was one of the game’s critical turning points as Hogan fumbled and the ball was picked up by a SWOSU defender who then lateraled backwards to Trent Pratt who raced 86 yards for the defensive two-point conversion. SWOSU’s lead was 18-6 with 9:18 remaining.

SWOSU took possession and Sangster went to work. He completed a 25-yard pass to Michael Cooper and then found Johnathan Haggerty on a 29-yard scoring toss and the Bulldogs led 25-7 with 8:34 to play.

On NSU’s next play, SWOSU’s Desmond Baker intercepted Hogan’s pass and returned it 22 yards for a score. The interception return for a touchdown was Baker’s second in as many games.  

SWOSU had scored 16 unanswered points in a span of 44 seconds and the game’s outcome had been determined with eight minutes yet play.

Defensively, SWOSU’s tackle leaders where Greg Franklin and Jon Patterson. Franklin had his second game of the season in which he reached double figures in tackles with 10. Patterson added seven tackles, including two for losses totalling five yards.

The Bulldogs will next play Saturday, Sept. 28 against rival University of Central Oklahoma as part of homecoming festivities. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.