LEAVENWORTH, Kansas – Oklahoma Baptist racked up 587 yards total offense on 77 plays and moved to 2-0 with a 62-37 win over St. Mary.
The high-scoring affair was true to expectations on paper with USM returning its quarterback and the improved Bison offense.
"We told our players all week they need to be ready for a dog fight," said OBU Coach Chris Jensen. " It takes a great deal of maturity to keep moving forward. We're glad to have the win, but we don't feel good about it. There are a lot of things that need to get better to keep moving. I was still on edge with three minutes left in the fourth quarter."
Blake Woodard passed for 245 yards and the Bison had a two-pronged rushing attack with Jordan Barnes running for 115 yards and Dawson Myers 109.
"It was just a team effort," said OBU wide receiver Derek Serowski. " It's just a team effort. Blake's been tremendous this year. With our run game being so effective this year, it's really opened everything up. Our line has opened up the running game and the passing game. We feel really great right now. Intensity is high but we have to get ready for another game."
The Bison broke out on top 61 seconds into the game when Woodard connected with Nyko Symonds from 46 yards out for a 6-0 lead.
The Spires took a 7-6 lead just 43 seconds later with a 72-yard pass play from Josh Ervin to Alex Gomes-Coelho.
St. Mary expanded that lead to 14-6 when Ervin hit Billy Owens for a 27-yard score with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Bison tied the score five seconds into the second quarter when Woodard found Derek Serowski for a 26-yard TD strike, followed by a Woodard-to-Connor Kinsey two-point conversion,.
Jordan Barnes carried for a 36-yard touchdown with 10:27 left in the first half to cap a five-play drive and deliver a 21-14 lead after Trey Tully's PAT.
The Spires answered with an 11-play drive to score, but missed the extra point after the Marcus Mata to Gomes pass from six yards out with 4:38 left in the half.
After USM muffed a punt, Woodard passed 35 yards to Serowski for a touchdown and a 28-20 lead.
The Bison used a Kimes Gilbert sack to force a three-and-out to get the ball back with under a minute to play. That was just enough time for a seven-play scoring drive, capped by a Woodard to Symonds TD pass from 17 out.
Oklahoma Baptist had 318 yards total offense in the first half despite three dropped passes and averaged nearly 8 yards per play.
Tim Mitchell kicked a 26-yarad field goal for USM to open the second half and trimmed OBU's lead to 35-23.
Barnes scored from five yards out with 67 seconds left in the third quarter to make it a 42-23 score for the Bison.
Frnakie Edwards scored from eight yards out, Myers ran one in from 34 yards and Cale Grauer ran one in from 37 yards out for OBU's three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Defensively, Tyler Day had nine tackles to lead the Bison.
OBU returns to action at noon Saturday in the home opener, taking on Missouri Baptist.
