BOLIVAR, Mo. — The Southwest Baptist University football team took down the defending GLVC Champion Indianapolis on Saturday night in Bolivar 41-37. The loss for UIndy marks only the 2nd GLVC loss in program history, and the first road GLVC defeat. With the win, the Bearcats improve to 3-0 (1-0 GLVC) on the season.
UIndy came right out of the gate, scoring the game's first touchdown on their first possession, but a Vice Epenesa blocked extra point made the score 6-0 with 12:10 left in the first quarter.
GAME PHOTOS: SBU VS. INDY
After an SBU punt, Mygeish Dennis picked off UIndy quarterback Jake Purichia on the SBU 8-yardline. Following another SBU punt, Dennis once again picked up another interception to give the ball back to the Bearcats. Southwest Baptist took advantage of the second pick, using Bubba Jenkins on the ground and a 34-yard pass from TJ Edwards to Chris Robb to set up a Jenkins 1-yard touchdown and give SBU a 7-6 lead with 1:12 left in the quarter.
However in the second quarter UIndy would score two touchdowns, both from their tailback Andrew Walker, as the Bearcats would head into halftime trailing 20-7.
In the second half a different team emerged from the SBU locker room. The SBU defense forced a three-and-out in UIndy opening drive of the half, and the Bearcat offense capitalized.
Edwards hit Scottie Wilson for a pair of short passes before a 25-yard rush from Edwards put the Bearcats in striking distance. After a UIndy personal foul, and a 9-yard completion from Edwards to Cassian Foreman, Jenkins would punch in another 1-yard touchdown run to pull SBU within 6 at 20-14 with 11:37 left in the third quarter.
The SBU defense once again forced a three-and-out, and the offense once again answered with another touchdown. Edwards hit Foreman with a 10-yard pass, and after a pair of 8-yard runs by Edwards, Edwards found Chris Robb in the endzone with a 43-yard touchdown strike to give SBU a 21-10 lead. However, the ensuing kickoff would be returned 92 yards for a UIndy score as the Bearcats trailed 27-21. After a Bearcat turnover gave the Greyhounds the ball in SBU territory, the defense held strong in the redzone by limiting UIndy to a field goal as SBU trailed 30-21 with 4:27 left in the quarter.
The back-and-forth battle continued as SBU responded with a score of their own on the following drive. The Bearcats were 3-yards shy of a first down, but a UIndy late hit gave the Bearcats a first down to keep the drive alive. Edwards then hit Foreman with a big 51-yard pass, a play which was blown dead due to Foreman's helmet coming off despite his continuation into the endzone. Edwards then connected with Matt Lechuga with an 8-yard touchdown strike as SBU trailed 30-27.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Indianapolis used a 75 yard drive to extend their lead back to 10 at 37-27 with 12:51 remaining. The Bearcats responded right away when Foreman returned to UIndy kickoff 100 yards for an SBU touchdown as the Bearcats trailed 37-34. The SBU defense forced a three-and-out, giving the Bearcat offense a chance to take the lead.
After a 4-yard rush by Jenkins, and an 11-yard rush by Edwards, Jenkins broke a 41-yard touchdown run to once again give the Bearcats the lead at 41-37 with 10:16 remaining.
UIndy ate 6:02 of clock on their following possession, taking the ball down to the SBU 1-yardline. However, on a third-and-goal from the SBU 7, Brycen Gagnon came up with a big interception on the goal line, giving the Bearcat offense the ball with the lead. Two big third down rushes by Edwards kept the drive alive as SBU ran the clock out and secured the 41-37 victory.
Bubba Jenkins continued his strong season by rushing for 158 yards and 3 touchdowns, while TJ Edwards rushed for 84 yards to go along with 241 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Chris Robb was the lead receiver for the Bearcats, hauling in 4 receptions for 87 yards, while Cassian Foreman had 81 yards receiving to go along with the 100-yard kickoff return.
Defensively Shaun Hutchinson and Mason Yelton had 11 tackles a piece, while Mygeish Dennis had two picks and Brycen Gagnon had one interception in the victory.
SBU will hit the road on Saturday, September 24 when they travel to Quincy to tae on the only other undefeated team in the GLVC. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Quincy, Illinois.
