2008 Woodie Awards
'Cats drop heartbreaker to Southern
Chris Dutschmann
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Sports
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The Bearcats marched down the field on the following possession and set up for a field goal attempt. After a mix-up in signals, Smart picked up the snap and ran on what proved to be an unsuccessful fake attempt.
SBU would go into halftime with a 10-3 lead.
The Bearcat offense would march out of the gate in the second half and score when freshman quarterback Steve Gachette hit senior receiver Nick Smart on a short pass over the middle and some swift moves by Smart that saw several Lion defenders fall flat on their backs. The play ended up as a 43-yard touchdown, and Ware's point-after attempt was tipped at the line causing the miss but leaving SBU with a 16-3 lead.
The Bearcat defense forced a punt on the next Lion possession, highlighted by a Ryan Musick sack.
The SBU offense looked as if they were going to drive the nail in the coffin as they marched down the field with authority, reaching the Southern 14-yard line, but the drive would come to a screeching halt after an errant pass was intercepted and returned to the SBU 45-yard line.
The Lions would score nine plays later, converting the point-after attempt, closing the gap to 16-10.
After going into the fourth quarter with the lead for the second week in a row, Southern scored on a short touchdown pass on their first drive of the fourth quarter.
After several possessions by each team, the Bearcat defense held tough on a fourth down play that gave the offense the ball with 1:13 left on the game clock.
After a huge sack by the Lion defense, which left SBU with an eventual fourth and 23 attempt, senior receiver LaMarcus Windham came up with a huge grab over the middle for 25 yards and new life for the Bearcats. Gachette would once again connect with Windham for 23 yards, which gave SBU the ball on the Southern 20-yard line with just over four seconds showing on the clock.
Gachette would then spike the ball with two seconds to go, and the field goal unit was sent out on the field.
With the crowd of over 1,800 cheering at the top of their lungs, Southern called a timeout to "ice" Ware. Ware would then try for a 37-yard attempt that was blocked up the middle because the Lions jumped the snap. This then set up the final attempt and the devastating miss.
After the game, linebackers coach E.J. Junior felt that the players deserved to win the game, and his heart went out to the players as they came up short in their efforts. All who attended the game got more than their money's worth and were treated to what was one of the most dramatic finishes in recent history.
Also, upon completion of all NCAA Division II games for the week of Sept. 22, receiver Nick Smart leads the nation in receptions per game with 10.5 a game.
Next up for the Bearcats is a game on the road this Saturday, Sept. 29 in Maryville, Mo., against the eighth-ranked green and white Bearcats from Northwest Missouri. The following week will be SBU's homecoming game against Truman State. Game time for Homecoming is 2 p.m. with festivities all week long leading up to the game.
SBU would go into halftime with a 10-3 lead.
The Bearcat offense would march out of the gate in the second half and score when freshman quarterback Steve Gachette hit senior receiver Nick Smart on a short pass over the middle and some swift moves by Smart that saw several Lion defenders fall flat on their backs. The play ended up as a 43-yard touchdown, and Ware's point-after attempt was tipped at the line causing the miss but leaving SBU with a 16-3 lead.
The Bearcat defense forced a punt on the next Lion possession, highlighted by a Ryan Musick sack.
The SBU offense looked as if they were going to drive the nail in the coffin as they marched down the field with authority, reaching the Southern 14-yard line, but the drive would come to a screeching halt after an errant pass was intercepted and returned to the SBU 45-yard line.
The Lions would score nine plays later, converting the point-after attempt, closing the gap to 16-10.
After going into the fourth quarter with the lead for the second week in a row, Southern scored on a short touchdown pass on their first drive of the fourth quarter.
After several possessions by each team, the Bearcat defense held tough on a fourth down play that gave the offense the ball with 1:13 left on the game clock.
After a huge sack by the Lion defense, which left SBU with an eventual fourth and 23 attempt, senior receiver LaMarcus Windham came up with a huge grab over the middle for 25 yards and new life for the Bearcats. Gachette would once again connect with Windham for 23 yards, which gave SBU the ball on the Southern 20-yard line with just over four seconds showing on the clock.
Gachette would then spike the ball with two seconds to go, and the field goal unit was sent out on the field.
With the crowd of over 1,800 cheering at the top of their lungs, Southern called a timeout to "ice" Ware. Ware would then try for a 37-yard attempt that was blocked up the middle because the Lions jumped the snap. This then set up the final attempt and the devastating miss.
After the game, linebackers coach E.J. Junior felt that the players deserved to win the game, and his heart went out to the players as they came up short in their efforts. All who attended the game got more than their money's worth and were treated to what was one of the most dramatic finishes in recent history.
Also, upon completion of all NCAA Division II games for the week of Sept. 22, receiver Nick Smart leads the nation in receptions per game with 10.5 a game.
Next up for the Bearcats is a game on the road this Saturday, Sept. 29 in Maryville, Mo., against the eighth-ranked green and white Bearcats from Northwest Missouri. The following week will be SBU's homecoming game against Truman State. Game time for Homecoming is 2 p.m. with festivities all week long leading up to the game.
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