Haire Breaks Two OBU Records in Loss

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist quarterback Preston Haire put on a show Saturday, but would have settled for a different outcome.
 
A red-shirt sophomore, Haire threw for 476 yards and five touchdowns – both single-game school records – in a 55-45 loss to No. 19 Southern Arkansas Saturday at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Memorial Athletic Complex.
 
OBU led twice in the third quarter and torched the SAU defense for more points of any opponent this season, but couldn't stop the well-balanced Mulerider offense. SAU had allowed 49 points coming into the contest.
 
Preston Haire threw for a school-record 476 yards and five touchdowns, completing 49 of 60 passes. It was the first 400-plus yards passing game in school history. Haire also led the team with 54 yards on the ground, accounting for 530 yards and six touchdowns.
 
Josh Pettijohn, Cagney Roberson and Noah McGraw also flexed some athletic prowess on the other end of those passes, combining for 21 catches and 314 yards. Pettijohn had two touchdowns and 114 yards on six catches and Roberson finished with 10 receptions for 113 yards.
 
After a missed field goal from 40 yards into the wind, OBU gave the ball to SAU for its first drive. The OBU defense had its way on the first two plays with Quinton Thorp and Robert Lolofie collecting a sack and Josh Arnold wrapping up a receiver for a three-yard loss to force a third-and-26.
 
However, a pass interference call put SAU on solid ground. The Muleriders went 77 yards on 12 plays and finished with a SirCharles Perkins TD run from the nine for a 7-0 lead with 5:30 left in the first quarter.
 
SAU went up 14-0 on a two-year run by Lorenzo Alexander with 12:37 remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Bison got on the scoreboard on the ensuing drive, marching 65 yards on eight plays. Haire passed to Pettijohn for 14 yards, twice to Roberson for gains of 24 and 10 yards and a 13-yard strike to McGraw before finding Seth Glasscock for a leaping catch in the back of the end zone from the five. OBU pulled to within 14-7 after the Luke Wendl PAT with 9:54 left in the half.
 
SAU went ahead 21-7 with Perkins scored from the 10 with 6:04 to go in the second quarter.
 
OBU replied with a nine-play, 75-yard TD drive. Josh Cornell and Jacques Henderson had receptions of 18 and 16 yards, respectively, and McGraw outworked a defender for a 25-yard touchdown reception from Haire to cut the lead to 21-14 with 3:51 left in the opening half.
 
The teams exchanged interceptions with Felipe Alvear getting his first college pick to set OBU up at the 50. The Bison drive 45 yards before Wendl booted a 22-yard field goal as the first half clock expired, cutting the Muleriders' lead to 21-17.
 
The Bison defense opened the second half with a stop to set up the offense at the SAU 46. After a roughing the passer call, Haire got the ball in the hands of Pettijohn in the end zone to give the Bison a 24-21 lead with 13:06 showing on the third quarter clock.
 
SAU got the lead right back, going 81 yards on four plays, capped by a Barrett Renner pass to Jared Lancaster for a 17-yard score and a 27-24 lead after the PAT kick failed at the 11:34 mark of the third.
 
OBU fired back with a 72-yard, nine play touchdown drive. A 31-yard pass play from Haire to Dillon Smith set up Haire's 11-yard touchdown run. The Bison led 31-27 with 8:13 to go in the third quarter.
 
Alexander scored on an eight-yard run to put SAU ahead for good, 34-31, with 3:59 to go in the wild third quarter. Haire was intercepted in the end zone to thwart the potential Bison answer.
 
SAU went up 41-31 with 14:53 left in the game on a 26-yard scoring run by Perkins. Renner passed to Lancaster for a 25-yard touchdown and a 48-31 lead with 9:37 remaining.
 
Haire threw to McGraw for a 31-yard gain to highlight a 75-yard scoring drive for the Bison. Haire got the ball in the hands of Henderson, who made a nice cut back inside to score on a 12-yard play to trim the deficit to 48-38 with 7:17 to play.
 
Renner and Lancaster hooked up again for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 55-38 with 4:38 to go.
 
Haire completed one last pass to Pettijohn, who muscled through a defender from the two to finish off a 42-yard scoring play. Wendl offered up the PAT for the game's 100^th point with 2:38 remaining.
 
Josh Arnold registered a dozen tackles, including eight solo takes and one tackle for loss. Alvear had 11 tackles and the interception. Hayden Ashley had nine tackles. Lane Martin, George McClendon and Jason Lee all broke up passes.
 
Now 2-3 on the season, the Bison head to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to take on Henderson State in a 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday.