Bison Knock Off Southeastern, 34-28

SHAWNEE – For the first time in its NCAA era, Oklahoma Baptist knocked off Southeastern Oklahoma State and holds a 2-0 record after its 34-28 win Saturday.
 
The Bison last won two games to open the season in its last NAIA year in 2014 and had gone 0-3 against the Savage Storm until getting redemption at home.
 
Preston Haire passed for 298 yards with four touchdown passes with Cagney Roberson grabbing a dozen receptions for 127 yards and a score. The 12 catches tied an OBU record shared by Nyko Symonds, who reeled in 12 against Southwestern Kansas in that 2014 season.
 
Defensively, Lane Martin had 11 tackles and Felipe Alvear added 10. Each forced a fumble, Alvear recovered one and broke up three passes.
 
Things didn't get off to the greatest start as SOSU scored on its third play, a 69-yard pass play from Austin Skinner to Jaylen Simms.
 
"We had some busted coverages today, but there's always a next play and our guys were focused," said OBU Coach Chris Jensen, who became just the second Bison football coach (Victor Hurt, 63 over 11 seasons) to register 20 wins. "We made enough plays to win."
 
OBU answered on its next drive, marching 59 yards on eight plays and capitalizing on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Haire to Jacques Henderson with 10:36 showing on the first quarter clock.
 
Luke Wendl added the PAT.
 
The Savage Storm scored on a two-yard run by Kenneth Burks for a 14-7 lead with 7:03 to play in the opening frame.
 
OBU responded with a 10-play 75-yard scoring drive, including a 31-yard Haire-to-Roberson pass play to set up a 23-yard touchdown pass from Haire to Dillon Smith. The scoring play tied the game with 3:38 still on the first quarter clock.
 
Southeastern march 98 yards on 13 plays, scoring on a Burks run from a yard out to take a 21-14 lead with 8:31 remaining in the first half.
 
The Bison put together a 14-play, 86-yard advance of their own, including Roberson receptions of 11 and 19 yards and culminating in a 24-yard field goal by Wendl. The field goal cut SOSU's lead to 21-17 going into the second half.
 
OBU took the opening kick and drove 75 yards on 12 plays with Haire connecting with Roberson for a six-yard touchdown. OBU had a 17-yard reception by Reece Gilbert to energize the drive early.
 
The TD put the Bison ahead 24-21 with 9:52 showing on the third quarter clock.
 
The Bison defense posted a shutout third quarter, allowing only seven offensive plays in the period.
 
OBU started a touchdown drive in the third quarter that saw Haire pick apart the Storm for four passes of 10 or more yards despite taking a targeting hit early in the drive. Haire hit Smith for his second touchdown reception from 10 yards out for a 31-21 lead with 13:47 to go in the game.
 
Wendl added a 45-yard field goal with11:35 to play for a 34-21 lead. It was Wendl's second consecutive two-field goal game. The drive starter after Alvear forced a fumble that George McClendon recovered for the Bison.
 
Aaron Ragas sniffed out a fake punt by SOSU and trapped the ball-carrier behind the line for an eight-yard loss to give the Bison the ball with 7:59 to go.
 
Lane Martin forced a fumble and Alvear recovered to thwart another SOSU drive, but the Storm scored on a 26-yard keeper by Skinner with 2:22 to go after the Bison lost a fumble of their own.
 
OBU covered the on-side kick attempt with Glasscock gathering in the ground ball. The Bison punted the ball away with Hayden Ashley's punt downed at the 2. Southeastern moved the ball to the 27 but could not get closer than that.
 
Ashley had five punts, including two downed inside the three-yard line.
 
The Bison will be home for their attempt at the first 3-0 record since 2014 with Arkansas Tech visiting at 1 p.m., Saturday, for the Oklahoma Baptist Hall of Fame Game.