The Omnibus

Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Sports

Freshman quarterback Steve Gachette makes a throw to senior wide receiver Nick Smart in SBU's 17-16 loss to Missouri Southern. Smart leads the nation in receptions per game. [Click to enlarge]

Last Saturday evening with no time left on the clock in the fourth quarter and the ball at the Southern 15-yard line, freshman kicker Jeremy Ware set up for the game-winning kick. After a bad snap, holder Nick Smart did all he could to bring the ball down and set, but Ware's timing was already off at this point, and he had trouble getting the ball off the ground on the kick.
Just like that, the game was over, and the Missouri Southern Lions pranced around the field in celebration, knowing they narrowly escaped with a win, 17-16.
In the most heartbreaking loss of the season, the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats showed the hometown crowd how improved they are this season despite a 0-4 overall record and a 0-2 record in the MIAA.
The Bearcat defense set the tone for the game, shutting down the Lion offense on a drive that began first and goal from inside the SBU 10-yard line, holding them to a field goal.
Ware would then tie the game up on the ensuing drive on a 29-yard field goal to tie the game up at 3-3.
On the next Lion drive, junior defensive end Mark Boyle came up with a huge sack pushing the Lions out of field goal range and forcing a punt.
Two drives later, junior defensive end Chris Tejeda came up with a huge sack in which he popped the ball loose, and junior linebacker T.J. Fenton pounced on the ball to give SBU the ball.
After a short Bearcat drive that ended in a punt, junior cornerback Lorenzo Head stepped in front of and intercepted an Adam Hinspeter pass and ran it back 24 yards to pay dirt in what was a work of beauty as he dodged several Lions and picked up some nice blocks from his teammates, putting the Bearcats up by a score of 10-3 after a Ware PAT.
SBU's next offensive would stall after an interception.
The SBU defense would come up huge once again on the Lions' ensuing drive that saw junior defensive tackle Clint Carroz and sophomore defensive end Will Ramirez team up for a sack on a second down play, and then on third down, Carroz would take matters into his own hands and pick up a sack with the offensive guard wrapped around him.

Continued...

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