Seniors to Play Final Game
November 9, 2007
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University will look to give 16 senior footballers playing in their final game a rousing sendoff when the Bulldogs close the 2007 season Saturday against Texas A&M Commerce. Kickoff is set 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 in Weatherford.
The seniors, along with the rest of their Bulldog teammates, are trying to become the first SWOSU squad since 1992 to finish with a winning record in consecutive seasons. SWOSU enters the game with a 5-5 record and tied with Southeastern Oklahoma for third in the Lone Star Conference North Division at 2-2. TAMC brings a 5-5 record and a 3-1 mark in the LSC North. The Lions are tied with Central Oklahoma for the LSC North lead.
Much is at stake as five of the six North division teams – SWOSU, SOSU, UCO, NSU and TAMUC, have a shot of at least grabbing a share of the LSC North title. SWOSU, itself, would like to gain a measure of revenge against the Lions who kept them from being North title holders with a 13-6 beating in the 2006 season finale.
Nothing will be easy against TAMUC as the Lions are just a one-point, overtime-loss from being alone, unbeaten and in first place of the North by themselves.
The Lions are led offensively by 26-year-old quarterback Terry Mayo who previously spent four years playing minor league baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers organization as a centerfielder. The North Carolina native has completed 53% of his passes for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Lions this year.
Defensively, the Lions rank as one of the LSC’s best. They are one of only two league teams allowing fewer than 300 yards of total offense and have forced 25 turnovers in 10 games this season.
SWOSU will rely on quarterback Steve Day who directed a stirring comeback last week against East Central University with two fourth quarter touchdowns in a 24-18 come-from-behind win. Day is averaging just over 208 yards a game through the air since taking over full time quarterbacking duties three weeks ago.
The Bulldogs have the current LSC North Defensive Player-of-the-Week with linebacker Ruzell McCoy. The Frederick junior recorded 11 tackles in the win against ECU and delivered one of the game’s biggest plays sacking ECU quarterback Marcus Johnson in the final moments.
If the game stays close, SWOSU could have an edge in the special teams with punter Corey Lenahan leading the league averaging just over 41 yards a punt and kicker Spenser Daniel as the only LSC kicker to make each and every one of his extra point attempts.