PORTALES, N.M. — The 18th ranked SBU football team fell at the hands of Eastern New Mexico on Thursday evening 23-21. With the loss the Bearcats fall to 0-1 on the season.
The Bearcats came out strong to open the game, using only 1:20 off the clock to take an early 7-0 lead. After a quick first down to open up the game, TJ Edwards aired the ball out to Cassian Foreman for a 62 yard catch-and-run to give the Bearcats the early lead. Eastern New Mexico promptly responded, scoring on back-to-back possessions as Southwest Baptist trailed 14-7 heading to the second quarter.
After a three-and-out by the Bearcats, the SBU defense forced a big fumble giving Southwest Baptist the ball on the ENMU 19-yardline. Edwards had a 16 yard run, and would take it in two plays later with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14. Eastern New Mexico would add a field goal on their following possession, and on ENMU’s final possession of the half Cory Hanger came across to block another ENMU field goal attempt as SBU went into the half trailing 17-14.
The defense would strap down in the third quarter, allowing only a field goal, as SBU went into the final quarter trailing 20-14. The SBU offense went to work, utilizing two ENMU penalties before Kendrick Payne would connect with Chris Robb on a 35-yard touchdown pass to give SBU a 21-20 lead. The Bearcat defense continued to come up big in the final quarter, with a strip sack by Julian Shade and two straight three-and-outs for the Greyhounds before penalties set up ENMU with a short field with 1:47 remaining. ENMU would end up connecting on a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining as the Bearcats would eventually fall 23-21.
The Bearcat defense had four in double-figure tackles, led by 13 from Tyler Curts while Brycen Gagnon had 11 and De’shawn Tone and Victor Clavier had 10 a piece. As a whole, the Bearcats had 17 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks on the evening. Offensively TJ Edwards threw for 146 yards and a score, while also adding in a team high 51 rushing yards a touchdown, with Cassian Foreman leading the receivers with 62 yards receiving.
The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, September 8 when they host Mississippi College for SBU’s home opener. The “Black Out” game is set to kickoff at 6:00 p.m. from Plaster Stadium in Bolivar.
