It took nearly three years. And overtime.
But the losing streak for Southern Nazarene is finally over. And appropriately enough, it took 33 points to keep the streak from reaching 33.
On Nov. 14, Southern Nazarene topped Oklahoma Baptist, 33-32, in OT to notch its first win since Nov. 10, 2012.
It has been a challenging run for the Crimson Storm making the transition to Division II, who carried a 22-game losing streak into 2015. And even after 10 losses on the year, they came out ready for a fight against a former Sooner Athletic Conference rival in Oklahoma Baptist. It is a rivalry that is budding in the Great American Conference, but the two programs had never met on the football field.
SNU got up early and was up 16-0 at the half. OBU answered with 20 points in the third and were up by four going into the fourth quarter.
James Mauro connected with Elden Coleman for a 29-yard touchdown pass on the Storm’s first drive in the fourth and regained the lead at 23-20. With less than two minutes left in regulation, OBU put together a nine-play drive that was capped by a Dez Stegall to Josh Pettijohn score from 26 yards out. With just 30 seconds left, this looked to be a game-winner. However, the extra point was missed, and the Bison led by just three, 26-23. There was still hope for the Crimson Storm and they used it.
An unsportsmanlike penalty let SNU start its possession at its own 40-yard line, following the kickoff. The Storm moved quickly and Mauro found John Martin for a 24-yard reception. A couple of plays later Carlos Anguiano connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired and tied the game at 26-26.
In the overtime session, SNU got the ball first. On second and 10, Terrance Olds ran in a 25-yard touchdown and with the PAT, the Strom were on top, 33-26.
OBU answered with a touchdown, when Stegall rushed for the score from two yards out. But the Bison elected to go for two, and Stegall’s pass didn’t connect, leaving the final score at 33-32.
Olds had a game-high 160 yards rushing and the game-winning TD. Mauro passed for 234 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Heading in 2016, Andy Lambert takes the reins of the program as its new head coach. It’s a team that will go into the next year with a one-game winning streak.
Top 10 of 2015: No. 3 – Bison baseball wins 30 straight
Top 10 of 2015: No. 4 – ECU’s Davis hits walk-off grand slam
Top 10 of 2015: No. 5 – Sooners win ninth men’s gymnastics national championship
Top 10 of 2015: No. 6 – OKWU men’s soccer notches 20 wins
Top 10 of 2015: No. 7 – McKenzie tops 100-yard mark in seven straight games
Top 10 of 2015: No. 8 – Luedtke posts triple-double in final match
Top 10 of 2015: No. 9 – SWOSU tops Ouachita in GAC opener
Top 10 of 2015: No. 10 – The streak is over
Top 10 of 2015: Honorable Mention
Top 10 of 2015: Plus