SWOSU Sports
Doug Self, Sports Information Director
MONTICELLO, Ark. – Dominic Blue blocked an Arkansas-Monticello field goal attempt in the final seconds of Saturday’s season-opener at UAM, propelling the SWOSU Football team to a 20-19 victory at Cotton Boll Stadium. With the win, the Bulldogs claim their first opening-game victory since 2013 and earn the program’s first win at UAM in four tries.
SWOSU struggled on both ends early in the game, spotting the Weevils 13 points after Josh Marini put through a 22-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter. The Dawgs would not get going until the end of the first half after UAM muffed a punt with less than one minute before halftime. Casey Freeman fired a deep ball up on 4th and 8, finding Jordan Jackson with nine seconds left in the half to get the Dawgs on the board and go to the break trailing 13-7.
The Bulldogs carried that momentum as they came out of the locker room, taking the second-half kickoff and driving 80 yards in 13 plays to take their first lead of the game following a three-year touchdown plunge from Cedric Cooper with 9:03 to play in the third. UAM answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass late in the third which gave the Weevils a 19-14 lead after three quarters.
SWOSU got the ball back with 11:52 to play at their own 20-yard line and put together a 14-play drive which spanned 80 yards and two quarterbacks as cramps began playing a role for both teams. Casey Freeman scampered for 14 yards on 3rd and 11, but did not return after cramps held him out the rest of the game. Tyler Marr entered in his place and converted another big 3rd-down play, hitting Zach Hill in stride for a 22-yard touchdown that put the Dawgs on top 20-19 with 6:23 to play.
The Bulldog defense quickly forced a three-and-out from UAM and got the ball back, but SWOSU was unable to run out the clock after the ensuing drive stalled just inside UAM territory. The Boll Weevils drove 47 yards in 12 plays, setting up a 32-yard field goal attempt for Josh Marini with 12 seconds to play. At the snap, SWOSU’s defensive line got a great surge and Dominic Blue came over the top to get the block and send the Bulldogs home victorious from their longest road trip.
“I’m so proud of our guys for hanging in there after a slow start, being resilient and making the game exciting there at the end,” SWOSU Head Coach Dan Cocannouer said following the game. “Dom Blue made a heck of a play there at the end of the game and we had a lot of guys making plays on both sides of the ball all night. I’m so proud of my players and my coaching staff, this is a great win to start the season.”
SWOSU played three quarterbacks against UAM, combining for 14-of-28 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while getting 186 yards from the running game – led by 85 yards on 14 attempts from Karltrell Henderson. Seven different Bulldog receivers caught a pass, with Dylan Power hauling in four for 31 yards while Jackson and Hill both had their first touchdown receptions in a SWOSU uniform.
The Bulldogs allowed 396 yards (166 rushing, 230 passing) to the Boll Weevils while forcing and recovering three UAM fumbles. SWOSU got a career-high 14 tackles (nine solo, five assist) from Austin Loomis while Antoine Albert totaled seven tackles, two pass breakups and one tackle for loss. The Dawgs had eight tackles for loss as a team, including 2.5 from TJ Harris, who along with Bailey McKay led the team with one sack.
SWOSU (1-0, 1-0 GAC) now returns home next Saturday to host Ouachita in the ASAP Kickoff Classic. Kickoff for the game – now known as the Paul Sharp Cup – will be at 6:00 pm from ASAP Energy Field in Weatherford.