BETHANY, Okla.—It has been a long 733 days since Southern Nazarene was able to celebrate a win on the gridiron, but that is all in the past now as Head Coach Dustin Hada received the gatorade bath after earning his first win as SNU Head Coach following an exhilarating 30-22 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday night.
The Southern Nazarene (1-6, 1-6 GAC) vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State (0-7, 0-7 GAC) matchup was the only DII game of the day and the two squads made it count, putting on a show from the opening kickoff.
The Storm created lightning immediately as Josh Johnson took the opening kickoff from the 1-yard line. Along the SNU sideline he made a sharp cut to the middle of the field and found a lane. From there it was all about out-running the defense. Johnson again cut to the far side of the field and tightroped his way down the sideline, crossing the plane to give the Storm a 7-0 lead just 18 seconds into the game.
It did not take long for SWOSU to respond, though. They used a strong passing game to march right down field on 5 plays to tie the game. The teams then traded punts before the Storm put together one of their best drives of the season, traveling 70 yards on 10 plays before Jarvis Davis capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Bulldogs eventually took the lead at 19-14 following a pair of touchdowns followed by failed PATs. They seemed to be in prime position heading into the locker room after the Storm turned the ball over on downs. SNU defensive back, Doryan Harris, had other ideas, though. With just 23 seconds remaining before halftime, Harris jumped a pass on the far side and took it to the house, shocking Southwestern with a 21-19 advantage.
That play seemed to change everything for this Southern Nazarene defense, who arguably put together the most impressive half of football in school history in the second half. The Bulldogs put up 251 yards of offense in the first half. They finished the game with 269 yards of offense as the SNU defense stifled them over the final 30 minutes. SWOSU totaled just 18 yards on 26 plays in that second half and had no answers for the SNU secondary, who limited SWOSU quarterback Tanner Griffin to just 1-of-17 passing in that second half.
As good as the defense was, the team was still forced to come from behind as an SNU turnover at their own 23-yard line would give Southwestern prime scoring position. Even on that possession the Bulldogs went backwards, ultimately setting for a 41 yard field goal that gave them a 22-21 lead.
The teams would then trade six possessions without points before SNU outdid their impressive first-half drive with a 10 play, 75 yard touchdown drive, including a conversion on 4th-and-7, that was capped off by an 8-yard Angel Ramirez touchdown run. The Storm went for two in an attempt to make it a 7-point game, but would come up inches short.
The Crimson Storm defense continued to push SWOSU backwards as they proved ready for anything Southwestern attempted to throw at them. Another forced punt would later set up a career-long 45 yard field goal off the foot of Ryan Reid. The field goal put SNU up 30-22 with just 2:10 remaining on the clock.
A turnover-on-downs, followed by an SNU three-and-out, gave SWOSU one last prayer with 34 seconds left. Needing 80 yards, Southwestern again was forced backwards as Landon Walker got free on the edge and came around the corner to strip the ball out of Griffin's hands. Demarcus Hawkins pounced on the loose ball, sealing the win for SNU for the first time since October 12, 2019. It was a fitting end as the strip-sack marked the first fumble that the Bulldogs lost all season.
It took a total team effort in the win. Jarvis Davis completed a season-high 78.6% percent of his passes as he totalled 156 yards combined through the air and on the ground.
Andrew Tisdale notched a season-high 61 yards, as well as a 35 yard rush to finish the day with 96 total yards.
Josh Johnson and Doryan Harris owned their halves of the field all game, coming away with 3 pass-breakups a piece to go along with their huge first half touchdowns.
The Storm will now get a couple of extra days of rest before they look to make it two in a row next time out. They will travel to Alva, Okla. to face off with Northwestern Oklahoma State on Oct. 23. The Rangers are winless on the year. The last time these teams met in Alva, SNU won a thrilling 37-34 double-overtime game. Northwestern would get their revenge in 2019 with a 35-21 win in Bethany. SNU will look to make it three wins out of the last four matchups against the Rangers. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
