Football Plays NSU Tough

October 10, 2009

TAHLEQUAH, Okla.  - Southwestern Oklahoma State University's push for its first football victory came up just short as Northeastern State University escaped with a 13-6 win Saturday in Tahlequah.

SWOSU had the ball in the closing seconds with an opportunity to tie the game but quarterback Steve Day's deep pass was intercepted at the NSU 42-yard line. The Riverhawks ran one final play as the clock expired.

The loss ended what had been a three-year win streak in the series for SWOSU and dropped the Bulldogs to 0-7 on the year and 0-2 in the Lone Star Conference North Division. NSU improved to 2-5 and 2-1 in division play.

SWOSU has little time to regroup as the Bulldogs will remain on the road traveling to play longtime rival Central Oklahoma Saturday, Oct. 17 in Edmond. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The difference in the game was Northeastern's second quarter touchdown. Ben Randle hauled in a two-yard pass from Kenny Davis to put the RiverHawks up 13-0 with 6:27 before half. The scoring play came after a 12-play, 81-yard drive that chewed up 5:10 off the game clock.

SWOSU's defense was near flawless from that point, shutting out Northeastern the final two-plus quarters. The Bulldogs limited NSU to three second-half first downs, forced four three-and-outs, came up with a fumble and intercepted a pass.

SWOSU's points came via the foot of place kicker Chad McIntosh who knocked home field goals of 34 and 40 yards, the first of which came at the second-quarter horn. McIntosh even aided in his second field goal later in the game.

His third-quarter punt was fumbled by the NSU returner and Timmy Winans fell on the loose ball setting up the Bulldogs 17 yards from the endzone. SWOSU went backwards in three plays before McIntosh came through booting a 40-yard field goal to cut NSU's lead to 13-6 with 10 seconds to play in the third.

SWOSU never crossed midfield in the fourth quarter but were given a lift when Jeff Lemon stepped in front of a Northeastern pass. Lemon's interception gave the Bulldogs the ball at their own 43-yard line. SWOSU though punted it back after a rush of one yard, a sack and an incompletion.

Both teams finished with 15 first downs but NSU had the total yards advantage gaining 230 to SWOSU's 188.

The Bulldogs were led defensively by Fred Leak and Sam Nwafor who each had 10 tackles on the game.