SWOSU Loses to Buffs, 42-20
September 20, 2008
CANYON, Texas – Southwestern Oklahoma State University stood toe-to-to with nationally-ranked West Texas A&M University and proudly stood tall before bowing 42-20 to the unbeaten Buffs.
The loss left SWOSU with a 1-3 record while the sixth-ranked and three-time defending Lone Star Conference champions Buffs improved to 4-0. SWOSU will next be in action Saturday, Sept. 27 at home against Tarleton State.
SWOSU staggered the heavily-favored Buffs early, regrouped after a rocky stretch, and delivered another telling shot later.
SWOSU put a charge in the crowd of 10,000 when the Bulldogs scored back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter to pull within eight points. SWOSU’s Kyle Wimberly bounced off two defenders and scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Steve Day. The point after was good and West Texas A&M’s lead was 28-20 with 3:42 remaining in the third period.
The Buffs answered and got back a comfortable working margin on their next possession marching 42 yards on six plays. Keith Null’s 4 yard pass to Charley Martin put WTAMU ahead 35-20 with 21 seconds left in the third period.
SWOSU had earlier came back after trailing 28-6. The Bulldogs scored on a Steve Ihekona’s three-yard run. Ihekona’s score came after a 47-yard, six-play drive and WTAMU’s lead was 28-13 with 5:03 to play in the third quarter.
SWOSU had one last chance to make things interesting midway through the fourth quarter. Demarcus Render intercepted a WTAMU pass and returned it to the Buffs’ 17-yard line. SWOSU moved to the four-yard line before the defense stiffened and checked them from scoring.
WTAMU put an exclamation point on the game’s end taking the ball 96 yard on 13 plays. The lead became 42-20 when Keith Flemming scored from three-yards out with 4:00 to play. One week after being shutout offensively, SWOSU began much more aggressive against the Buffs. SWOSU took the opening drive and marched 70 yards in 13 plays before settling for a 22-yard field goal by Spenser Daniel.
WTAMU showed its quick strike capabilities running off a string of 21 unanswered points in a span of seven minutes. Null threw TD passes of 42 and 19 yards and Wayne McKnight scored on a three-yard run to put WTAMU up 21-3 with 5:04 to play in the second quarter.
SWOSU kept its focus despite letting the Buffs out in front. The Bulldogs responded by taking the ball 63 yards on nine plays before Daniel was called on to kick a 34-yard field goal on the half’s last play to trimming the lead to 21-6