SECOND HALF MISTAKES COST SBU GAME

October 16, 2004

Box

BOLIVAR, MO. .After taking a 20-13 lead into halftime, the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats never saw the endzone again as they turned the ball over three times in the second half. ESU put up 268 yards of offense in the second half and scored 21 points to claim the win.

SBU came out on fire as they took their opening drive 75 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Robert Clardy sweeped his way into the endzone from 19-yards out to cap the 10-play drive. In the drive, SBU rushed eight times 65 yards and completed one pass for 10 yards.

The Hornets answered right back with their own 49-yard drive that ended in a Justin Gray 36-yard field goal. ESU then received a gift as SBU fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the Bearcat 32-yard line. Five plays later, Tad Hatfield hit JJ Richard in the endzone from 13-yards out for a 10-7 lead.

After driving to the ESU 40-yard line, SBU punted the ball back to the Hornets as ESU tookover on their own 17-yard line. On third-and-2, Hatfield's pass was picked off by SBU's Ulexis Williams as he returned the ball 28 yards for a touchdown to give SBU the lead again, 14-10.

It was not until the 2:53 mark in the second quarter the SBU took a 10-point lead when Clardy scored his second touchdown of the day from three yards out. SBU started the drive on their own 14-yard line and took 5:53 off the clock.

Leaving just under three minutes left in the half, ESU marched down the field into the redzone. Having a first and goal from the eight-yard line, SBU's defense dug in and stopped the Hornets offense as ESU kicked a 24-yard field goal to bring the score to 20-13 at halftime.

The second half was a reversal of the first half as ESU dominated the statistics and scoring. A key moment that was a momentum change for the Hornets came early in the third quarter. After turning the ball over on downs on their own 31-yard line, SBU was given great field position to score and improve their lead. JoJo Rawls put SBU on the 24-yard line bu on the next play, Clardy fumbled the ball and ESU stopped the Bearcats threat of taking a two touchdown lead.

Two series later, ESU drove 62-yards to tie the game at 20 when Hatfield connected with Richard from 11-yards out.

SBU gave the ball back to ESU on a punt and the Hornets turned around and took the momentum. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, ESU started at their own 31-yard line and six plays later had a seven-point lead on a Lantrez Jones two-yard td run.

On the Bearcats next possession, Clardy threw an interception on the third play of the drive that resulted in an ESU score six-plays later. Hatfield hit Richard again form 11 yards out for the 34-20 advantage.

The Bearcats tried to get back into the game by driving to the ESU 32-yard line but the drive ended on Clardy's second interception of the day. ESU then ran the last 5:31 off the clock on a nine-play drive that started at their won 10-yard line and finished on the SBU six-yard line.

Clardy finished the day with 105 yards rushing on 19 carries but only threw for 79 yards (15-10-1). In his first start, Rawls rushed for 91 yards on 17 carries. David Rogers was the leading receiver with three catches for 26 yards.

Defensively, Michael Pearl had 10 tackles and two breakups. SBU had one interception, three breakups, and three sacks.

SBU will look for a win on Saturday, October 23, when they host Missouri Southern at 1:30 p.m. in Plaster Stadium.