SWOSU Loses to ACU, 50-14

September 22, 2007

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University found itself in the way of a rapidly rising Abilene Christian University football team and when the dust settled found themselves 50-14 losers Saturday in Weatherford.

The Bulldogs (3-2) were dominated from the beginning to the end and surrendered the most points by a SWOSU team since 1998 when they gave up 52 points to Texas A&M-Commerce. ACU (3-1) has now won three straight after opening the season with a loss against Central Oklahoma. The Wildcats have beaten the two favorites in the LSC North – Southeastern Oklahoma State University and SWOSU -- by a combined score of 91-17 in the last two weeks.

ACU quarterback Billy Malone completed 22-of-27 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns before sitting the final quarter. Malone threw to 11 different receivers and had the Bulldogs guessing wrong for much of the game.

The Wildcats accounted for 601 yards of total offense and had a 14-minute edge in time of possession. SWOSU managed 291 yards and were limited even further by having 15 penalties for 125 yards whistled on them.

The Bulldogs played both Steve Day and Jimmy Sangster at quarterback. Both had some success completing just 19-of-44 passes for 235 yards but were intercepted three times. Sangster threw for 136 yards, but it was Day who delivered both of SWOSU’s scoring tosses.

Day connected with Kyle Wimberly on a 31-yard pass to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:21 remaining in the first quarter. ACU then shifted into another gear scoring 36 unanswered points during the second and third quarter and had a comfortable 43-7 lead heading into the fourth.

SWOSU’s final score was a five-yard pass from Day to tight end Jason Hill with 11:48 left in the fourth period. The TD came after a 71-yard, 16-play march in which Day connected repeatedly with wide receiver Johnathan Haggerty. Haggerty ended the game with 10 catches for 121 yards.

Defensively, SWOSU was led by Greg Franklin with 14 tackles. Desmond Baker added 11 and LaKendrick Bevil was next with 10 for the Bulldogs.

SWOSU will conclude its LSC South Division crossover portion of the schedule next week when they travel to nationally-ranked and unbeaten Tarleton State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Stephenville, Texas.