Football Falls to SOSU
October 4, 2008
Luke Lundy
The loss, SWOSU’s fifth straight, left the Bulldogs at 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the Lone Star Conference North Division. SOSU, winners of seven straight in the series, improved to 2-4 on the year and 1-0 in the division.
One week after losing on a last-second “Hail Mary” to Tarleton State, SWOSU appeared to have wiped that ugly memory away. The Bulldogs staged a remarkable second half rally that saw them roar back to take the lead after trailing 20-0 at the half.
Tight end Joe Sawyer caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Steve Day to put the Bulldogs ahead at 21-20 with 13:37 to play in the fourth quarter. The touchdown, Day’s third in the second half, helped offset a difficult first half when the quarterback was intercepted three times and threw for only 72 yards.
SWOSU’s stay in front was brief as moments later Southeastern return specialist Jerome Hewitt brought back a punt 54 yards for a score to put the Savage Storm ahead 26-21 with 7:44 to play.
Southeastern added a little insurance later as Cole Jones, who had previously kicked field goals of 33 and 54 yards, knocked home a 30-yarder with 57 seconds to play putting SOSU’s lead to 29-21.
The Bulldogs managed to get as far as the SOSU 29-yard line before Day’s desperation heave in the endzone was batted down as the horn sounded to preserve the Savage Storm’s win.
SWOSU began its comeback on its first possession of the second half. The Bulldogs showed their teeth marching 70 yards on six plays and scored when Kyle Wimberly hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Day with 11:37 to play in the third quarter. Wimberly had an outstanding game leading the team offensively with nine catches for 157 yards and the third quarter touchdown.
The game took on a completely different look after SWOSU’s second score when again the Bulldogs marched down the field covering 80 yards on five plays. The score came when Brandon Dixon latched onto a nine-yard pass from Day. The point after was good and SOSU’s lead was trimmed to 20-14 with 7:37 to play in the third period.
Day finished the game completing 26-of-43 passes for 326 yards. He was intercepted three times but bounced back with three second-half TD’s.
The SWOSU Bulldog defense was nearly flawless in the second half limiting the Savage Storm to just one special team’s score and a short field goal. SWOSU outgained its opponent by a 441 to 295 yard margin and ran 15 more plays.
Ruzell McCoy, Jaron Burgess and Justin Cannon each shared top tackling honors with eight each.