SEE-SAW BATTLE IN TOPEKA GOES TO WASHBURN

October 9, 2004

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TOPEKA, MO. . Trying to tie the game and send it into overtime, the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats missed a 37-yard field goal with 00:02 left on the clock as the fell to Washburn University, 38-35. SBU scored with 1:46 left in the game to go on top, 35-30, but WU scored on a six-yard pass with 00:31 left in the game.

Taking a three-point lead with 00:31 left in the game, WU looked as if they had the game all wrapped up. SBU's Michael Pearl took the kickoff and returned it 15 yards to the SBU 35-yard line. Quarterback Robert Clardy found JoJo Rawls for a 23-yard gain and then Clardy took off for a 20-yard run to the WU 22-yard line. After a timeout with 00:10 left in the game, Clardy rushed only for two yards on the next play. Ryan Smith came out to try a 37-yard field goal to tie the game but it sailed wide right as WU took over the ball and the win.

Clardy led the SBU offense as he rushed for 188 yards on 17 carries and threw for 170 yards (15-29). Marco Kirven also had 102 yards on 25 carries while Nick Smart was the leading receiver with five catches for 60 yards Rawls came away with three rushing touchdowns, 62 yards rushing, and 23 yards receiving. Joey Maiwelmal led the defense with nine tackles. Both Brad Hill and Ben Glidewell recorded sacks.

Washburn struck first in the first quarter when Ra'Shaw Moseley rushed in from seven-yards out with 6:32 to go. SBU then answered back with two touchdowns in the second quarter. Kirven scored the first touchdown from one-yard and then Rawls picked up his first of three tds with 3:54 left on another one-yard run as SBU took a 14-7 lead into the lockerroom.

It was all Washburn in the second half putting up 31 points. The third quarter was the turning point for WU as they scored 20 points. WU tied the game at 14 at the 11:16 mark on Tyler Schuerman to Sam Sissom seven-yard pass. SBU retook the lead, 21-14, with 4:11 when Clardy dashed in from seven-yards out. WU then scored twice in less than two minutes late in the third quarter. Sissom tied the game at 21 on another 13-yard pass from Schuerman and then Tramaine Young put the Ichabods ahead 27-21 at the 00:52 mark.

With 10:49 left in the game, WU nailed a 32-yard field goal for a nine-point lead, 30-21. Rawls added his second and third touchdowns of the game at the 9:08 and 1:46 mark. His second td came on a one-yard run and then darted in from nine-yards out for a 35-30 SBU lead.

WU had one last chance to take the lead. Starting at their own 27-yard line, the Ichabods converted two fourth downs to keep their drive going and then scored the winning touchdown with 00:31 left. Scheurman hit two key passes on fourth-and-five and fourth-and-10 on the winning drive.

SBU will take on Emporia State at Plaster Stadium on Saturday, October 9, at 1:30 p.m.