BETHANY - You just can't give up on this team.
For the second consecutive week, the Southern Nazarene football team scored three times in the fourth quarter, this time using it to propel forward over Southwestern Oklahoma State, taking a 35-23 win over the Bulldogs to celebrate not only Homecoming, but Senior Day.
For the Crimson Storm, it is their second straight win, and their second straight come-from-behind win.
Southern Nazarene turned the ball over five times and struggled in plenty of fazes today, but they came through when it mattered most and got what the most important thing: a win. The defense forced four Bulldog turnovers and held their high-powered offense to 332 yards of total offense. SNU went for 385 yards of total offense including 305 on the ground.
It was not the start SNU drew up.
After an interception by
Jakel Davis on SWOSU's opening drive, SNU proceeded to give it back to the Bulldogs via interception before fumbling on their next drive. Both of those turnovers turned into points for the Bulldogs, using a 12-play drive and a nine-play drive to take a 13-0 lead on short Jaden Knowles TD runs.
The Crimson Storm desperately needed a response and got it early in the second, going 81 yards in seven-plays with heavy doses of
Gage Porter. The sophomore quarterback would cap the drive with a beautiful read option, galloping 40 yards to paydirt to get SNU on the board and make it a 13-7 game.
Both teams exchanged possessions throughout the second quarter before Southern Nazarene got the ball back at their own with 5:13 to play in the half and marched down the field in 15-plays, moving deep into SWOSU territory. With time running out, SNU got in a position to put points on the board, but an interception at the buzzer kept the score at bay, 13-7.
SNU had its answer to start the second half, as freshman
Alfred Grear received the opening kick of the half and used his tremendous speed to go 91-yards to the house to give the Crimson Storm their first lead of the game at 14-13. Both teams were quiet early in the third before SWOSU took it down inside the SNU redzone. An option play turned disaster for the Bulldogs as
Ethan Spurlock forced a fumble followed by a recovery from
Noah Campbell to get a huge turnover.
After SNU punted, SWOSU took their drive late in the third quarter and moved into the fourth quarter, going 84 yards in eight-plays and resulting in a 35 yard touchdown pass from Casey Freeman to Jared Rayburn to take the lead back at 20-14.
Southern Nazarene had an immediate answer as Porter took the first play of the new drive and went 61 yards down to the SWOSU 14. One play later, Porter raced up the middle and the ball popped free on contact, but fell into the hands of
Jacoby Hicks, who finished the run off for a seven yard score. The unconventional, yet efficient score gave SNU the lead back at 21-20.
Both teams exchanged possessions before SNU got buried at their own one-yard line. A short punt into the wind gave the Bulldogs the ball back with 9:28 to go. Though the offense gained no ground, Ryan Buchanan connected on a 45-yard field goal to take a 23-21 lead midway through the final quarter.
Things got a little crazy as it seemed an interception at the SNU 39 spelled doom for the Crimson Storm with seven minutes to play. SWOSU went three-and-out and elected to go for it on fourth down, but the Storm defense came up huge and forced the turnover on downs.
The very next play, SWOSU got it back with a tremendous interception by Jalen Carr in their own territory. The SNU defense stepped up again and forced a three-and-out, giving the Crimson Storm the ball back with 3:37 to play in the game.
Catches by
Nate Walker and
Devan Brady set up a 38 yard run by Porter right up the middle, putting SNU ahead 27-23 with 1:46 to play. SNU went for two and Porter connected with Brady to increase the lead to 29-23.
SWOSU looked to answer on the ensuing drive, but Freeman's pass was intercepted by
Anthony Stephens II and SNU looked to run precious clock out and solidify the victory. The Bulldogs got one more spot with 31 seconds to play, but Freeman was picked off again, this time by Davis who took it 26-yards to the house to add an exclamation point to an exciting win.
Porter ran 23 times for 205 yards and two scores as well as going 10 of 18 for 80 yards through the air.
Daniel Ramos III added 11 carries for 63 yards while Brady hauled in a career-high eight catches for 59 yards. Freeman led SWOSU with 209 yards passing and a touchdown pass while Marcus Anderson II ran 15 times for 78 yards. DJ Hicks had five catches for 82 yards.
Defensively,
Myles Roll finished with 12 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss while Davis went for six tackles and two picks.
Daniel Flynn added six tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack while
Zack Loyd had five tackles and a sack. Ethan Spulock had five tackles and the forced fumble while
Noah Campbell had a sack and a fumble recovery.
Jacob Rodman and Gerald White each had six tackles for SWOSU to go with a TFL. Carr had two INTs while CJ Jennings and Dalton Cooper each added a takeaway.
Southern Nazarene goes to 3-7 overall and 3-7 in GAC play as they earn their first ever win over the Bulldogs in eight tries.
The Crimson Storm will close the season next Saturday on the road against arch-rival Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee. SNU will look to make it three straight wins for the first time since joining NCAA Division II and the first time since 2011.
