Bison Edged in Weatherford

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State won on a 41-yard touchdown pass as time expired Thursday, handing Oklahoma Baptist a 37-35 loss.

Dezmond Stegall had a school-record 332 yards passing, including three touchdowns as he completed 25 of 39 passes.

"That was a tough way to lose," said OBU Coach Chris Jensen. "I was proud of the way Dez played tonight and Isaiah Mallory and Dawson Myers fought for every yard."

After SWOSU scored on its opening drive, the Bison responded with a 13-play, 70-yard scoring march of their own. Dezmond Stegall converted third down passes of 17 yards to Alex Lewis and 16 yards to Cagney Roberson and finished the drive on a quarterback sneak from a yard out.

The Trey Tully PAT tied the game at the 5:06 mark of the quarter.

Southwestern took a 14-7 lead but the Bison answered with an impressive 11-play, 90-yard drive.

Stegall and Noah McGraw connected for a 19-yard gain and Isaiah Mallory for a 41-yard pick-up, both on third downs, to set up a third-down touchdown pass from Stegall to Josh Pettijohn of 10 yards.

OBU took the lead, 21-14, with an 89-yard, eight play drive, highlighted by a 47-yard Stegall to Pettijohn pass and a 22-yard rush by Stegall. Mallory capped the drive on a 10-yard TD run at the 2:55 mark of the second quarter.

The Bulldogs scored late to tie the game 21-21 at halftime. Stegall had 182 yards passing in the half.

SWOSU took a 28-21 lead with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter.

OBU used more third-down success on a 10-play 82-yard drive, including a Stegall to Pettijohn pass of 38 yards to set up a seven-yard scoring play from Stegall to Stephan Turner early in the fourth quarter.

A 32-yard field goal by SWOSU made it 31-28 in favor of the Bulldogs with 7:49 to go in the game.

The Bison took the lead with a 10-play, 78-yard drive that included a 31-yard pass from Stegall to Roberson before Stegall found Pettijohn for the 35-31 lead with 15 seconds left in the game.

OBU had 97 yards rushing from Mallory. Pettijohn had four catches for 102 yards and Roberson reeled in eight passes for 86 yards.

Phillip Spess led OBU with 12 tackles and Ke'Landus Culton had his first career interception. D'Ante Meeking and Charles Taylor III had two pass break-ups each.

Now 2-6, the Bison head to Arkadelphia next Saturday, Oct. 29, for a 2 p.m. contest at Henderson State.