#3 NWMSU TOO STRONG FOR SBU

October 30, 2004

Box

BOLIVAR, MO. .In the "Bearcat Bragging Rights" game, Northwest Missouri State showed why they were the #3 team in the nation with a 34-22 win over Southwest Baptist. SBU threw for 347 yards in the loss.

Coming to play, SBU gave NWMSU a run for their money all the way to the end of the game. On NWMSU's first drive of the game, they took the ball to the SBU seven-yard line before two penalties put them back to the 24-yard line. SBU's secondary then denied two Josh Matthews' passes and then held NWMSU to a field goal try that went wide left.

SBU then went three-and-out and gave the ball back to the Bearcats. NWMSU struck quickly as they only took 1:04 off the clock on a three play 73-yard drive. Matthews connected with Andre Rector on a 61-yard pass for the first score of the game.

Answering right back, SBU took 6:13 off the clock when Clardy mastered a 14-play 81-yard drive that ended on a JoJo Rawls one-yard run to tie the game at seven. Rawls rushed the ball five times for 28 yards while Clardy hit three different receivers.

Jamacia Rector put NWMSU back in scoring position after the opening kickoff with a 54 yard return to SBU's 43-yard line. It only took 33 seconds for NWMSU to go back up by seven as Xavier Oman rushed twice for 29 yards and then Matthews hit Jamacia Rector in the endzone from 14-yards out.

NWMSU added two field goals in the early part of the second quarter when SBU's defense stayed strong in the redzone. Luis Berlanga hit two field goals from 28-yards for a 20-7 advantage. They then scored another touchdown just before halftime to take a 27-7 lead.

On the opening drive of the second half, SBU made a drive into NWMSU territory but could not convert on a fourth down. JoJo Rawls returned the kickoff 53 yards to the NWMSU 47. Clardy then hit Nick Smart on a 17-yard pass and then after a Rawls rush Clardy found David Rogers across the middle for a 20-yard gain to the NWMSU 15-yard line. After a four-yard loss on a Rawls run, SBU garnered a holding penalty to set them back to the 25-yard line. The Bearcats then did not convert on the 4-24 as NWMSU stopped SBU's momentum.

The SBU Bearcat defense took back the momentum two plays later. NWMSU was set up on the SBU six-yard line when Brigham Rowe sacked Matthews in the endzone for a safety. That cut the lead to 18, 27-9.

SBU took the free kick and once again could not convert on a fourth down. They drove to the NWMSU 27-yard line but was stopped on a fourth-and-5 to give the ball back to NWMSU, again.

Six plays later, NWMSU went up 34-9. It was the Oman Xavier drive as he rushed six straight times for 77 yards and capped off the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run.

The SBU Bearcats did not give up and bolted right back. It only took four plays as Travis Howry went 55-yards on a pass from Clardy to add another six points on the board, 34-15.

Surprising NWMSU, SBU's Ryan Smith recovered his own onside kick and gave SBU great field position at the SBU 46-yard line. The Bearcats drove to the NWMSU 10-yard line but for the third time in the game did not convert on a fourth down.

It was not until the 1:43 mark in the fourth quarter the SBU scored their final touchdown. Putting together a 91-yard drive, Deon Boykin finished "Senior Day" with a one-yard touchdown run to make it 34-22.

SBU's passing game came alive as Clardy threw for 270 yards as he was 27-of-44 with one interception. Eric Sanderson finished with 77 yards passing on a 4-of-9 performance. Howry had a career day with seven receptions for 127 yards receiving. Clardy also was SBU's leading rusher wtih 92 yards.

SBU had more total offense then NWMSU, 461 yards to 387 yards, but gave up 204 yards on the ground to NWMSU.

SBU's defense combined for four sacks on the day and one safety. Donald Williams led the team with 13 tackles and two tackles-for-loss.

Closing out the 2004 season, SBU will travel to Kirksville, Missouri, on Saturday, November 6 to take on Truman State. Gametime is at 12 p.m.