SBU OFFENSE IGNITES FOR 52 POINTS IN HOMECOMING VICTORY

October 2, 2004

Box

BOLIVAR, MO. . Scoring five times in the first half, the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats took a commanding 31-0 lead into halftime as they never looked back in a 52-14 win over the University of Missouri-Rolla. The SBU offense had 499 yards of total offense and the defense held UMR to under 100 yards rushing.

The Bearcats marched down the field on their opening drive of the game by going 61-yards in 10 plays. SBU split the drive up into three passes and seven rushes to gain the touchdown. Marco Kirven finished off the drive on a one-yard dive for the 7-0 lead.

UMR gave the Bearcats the ball back on the kickoff as SBU's Nick Page forced a UMR fumble at the Miner 20-yard line. Four plays later, JoJo Rawls saw the endzone from one-yard out to give SBU the 14-0 lead at the 9:07 mark in the first quarter.

Once again, UMR put SBU in another great position as Miner quarterback Brandon Landry's pass was intercepted by Ulexis Williams on the ensuing drive and returned 37-yards for a touchdown run and the quick 21-0 lead.

The Miners drove to the SBU 30-yard line but could not convert a fourth down as they turned the ball over on downs to the Bearcats with 4:44 left in the first quarter. SBU then moved the ball to the Miner 18-yard line where Ryan Smith nailed a 37-yard field goal for the 24-0 lead.

Responding to the SBU offense, UMR tried another long drive in the second quarter. Starting at their own 17-yard line, the Miners made it to the SBU one-yard line before the bottom fell out of their offense. On their first two tries from the one-yard line, the Bearcat defense stuffed Landry from getting in. UMR then had a delay of game to set them back to the six-yard line. Their next pass fell incomplete and then on fourth and goal Brigham Rowe and Craig Edwards sacked UMR's Landry for a loss of seven yards for the turnover on downs and a goal line stand.

Looking to keep things rolling, SBU put yet another positive drive together that went 65 yards on 10 plays. For the third rushing touchdown of the game, quarterback Robert Clardy bounced in from one-yard out to give the Bearcats a 31-0 lead.

Taking the ball first in the second half, UMR did not give up easily. They took their opening drive and marched down the field for their first score of the game. Quarterback Mark Becker connected with Brett Fischer for a five-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-7.

The Bearcats did not take this to lightly. They responded with another strong drive that ate 3:52 off the clock. Clardy found tight end Dan Sundber in the endzone for the 38-7 lead from two-yards out.

After swapping punts, SBU took the ball back from the Miners withr 1:41 left in the third quarter when Brandon Taylor intercepted a Becker pass at the UMR 21 and the returned it to the UMR eight-yard line. On the next play, Deon Boykin darted in from eight yards for the 45th point of the game.

The Miners scored their second touchdown with 14:07 left in the game on a seven-yard pass to Gronewald from Becker. SBU's Kirven matched the score again with his own four-yard run with 11:40 left in the game as he finished off the scoring for the Bearcats.

Putting up 499 yards of total offense, the Bearcats threw for 271 yards and rushed for 228 in a balanced attack. Nick Smart had a career day as he caught nine passes for 121 yards to lead all receivers. Kirven was the leading rusher with 83 yards.

Defensively, SBU was outstanding as they picked off three balls and recorded three sacks. Ulexis Williams, Raashad Thompkins, and Brandon Taylor all had interceptions while Hayden Gilbert and Josh Hodges each picked up a sack. Craig Edwards and Brigham Rowe shared a sack, too. SBU forced three fumbles and recovered them all.

Ulexi Williams led the defense with eight tackles in which six were solo.

SBU will take to the road next week as they travel to Topeka, Kansas, to meet Washburn University at 1 p.m.