Bulldogs Better Bronchos, 25-22

October 28, 2006

WEATHERFORD –Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s rejuvenated football team continued its late-season surge with a dramatic a 25-22 victory over arch rival Central Oklahoma Saturday in Weatherford. The win was SWOSU’s first in four years over UCO and brought a roar of approval from the appreciative Homecoming crowd.

The Bulldogs, who entered the year as the pre-season pick for last, find themselves at 5-4 overall and in a three-way tie for first in the Lone Star Conference North at 2-1. SWOSU can gain a share of their first LSC North title since 1998 with wins against East Central and Texas A&M-Commerce in the final two games.

SWOSU quarterback Jimmy Sangster threw for 266 yards and scored on three short touchdown runs, including two in the final seven minutes. Sangster’s last score came after an improbable set of circumstances.

With UCO leading 22-19, the Bronchos opted to try a fake punt on a fourth-and six play from their own 35-yard line with just 5:20 to play. UCO’s Demario Pullen was pulled down four yards shy on the trick play by an alert tackle from special teams star Chris Moore and Terrence Henderson.

Sangster took over at that point completing passes of 14 yards to Jason Hill and another of nine yards to Michael Cooper to get inside the 10. Sangster then plowed over the goal line on a six-yard keeper with 2:31 to play. SWOSU now led 25-22 and the cheers began to rain down from the celebratory crowd.

UCO moved to the Southwestern 44-yard line but were bottled up at that point by a Bulldog defense that dominated the from the opening gun. SWOSU limited the Bronchos to just 148 yards of total offense and only one offensive score.

SWOSU battered and bullied the Bronchos for much of the game and if not for a series of unfortunate luck during a short-stretch the game could have been even more lopsided.

SWOSU carried a 12-0 lead into the third quarter when Sangster’s option pitch went wide and bounced on the Bulldog’s own goal line only to be picked up by UCO’s Jermelle Cudjo for a touchdown with 9:53 to play in the quarter.

The Bronchos then took the lead at 15-12 after scoring on a short touchdown run following an interception of Sangster at the Bulldog’s own 31-yard line.

SWOSU’s hopes for the win became even more problematic later when Spenser Daniel’s 40-yard field goal attempt was again blocked and UCO’s Brandon Smith picked up the ball. Smith raced untouched 65 yards to the endzone and the Bronchos lead was 22-12 with 13:51 to play.

SWOSU then chipped away marching 80 yards on 13 plays as Michael Cooper caught passes of 15, eight and seven yards from Sangster to move the ball to midfield. Sangster then connected with Jarron Burgess on a 32-yard strike down to the UCO 1. Sangster then snuck in from one yard away and UCO’s lead was sliced to 22-19 with 7:34 to play.

The Bronchos took over with a chance to run out the clock but the fake punt backfired and provided the Bulldogs with just the break they needed to come away with the win.

SWOSU outgained UCO by nearly 200 yards and owned a staggering 15-minute advantage in time of possession and ran 25 more plays than the Bronchos.

Defensively, SWOSU was led by Ryan O’Shields with seven tackles while teammate Joe Castle came up with some of the game’s biggest plays. Castle had six tackles including a quarterback sack in the game’s opening minutes that resulted in a safety and an early 2-0 lead by the Bulldogs.