The Omnibus

Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Sports

Senior Nick Smart fights off a defender after one of his national-leading 85 receptions. Despite Smart's efforts, the Bearcats are still winless on the season after losing to Truman State and Missouri Western. [Click to enlarge]

At the start of the Oct. 6 Homecoming game against the Truman State Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 in MIAA), junior running back Jeff Finnell told Coach Keith Allen he was feeling good about the day he thought he could have.
"Coach…run me 'til my legs fall off," said Finnell.
On a day when it appeared the team was looking for someone step up and take charge, Finnell took charge and finished with a career-best 261 yards of total offense (215 rushing, 46 receiving) and two touchdowns on the day. Even with the running back's superb numbers and the team's total domination on the stats sheet, the Bearcats (0-6, 0-4 in MIAA) fell short in the end by a score of 55-31, their first Homecoming Day loss in four years.
After trailing at halftime, 28-19, the Bearcats were unable to chip away at the deficit in the second half.
Truman struck first on their second drive of the game when they converted a fourth and inches play into a 41-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper, putting them up 7-0 after the point-after attempt. After a pair of stalled drives by SBU, the Bulldogs scored once again on a quarterback keeper, this time from 12 yards out, and after the point-after, Truman led 14-0.
On the ensuing possession, the Bearcats were able to put the ball in the endzone as Finnell was able to punch the ball in from one yard out. He scampered for 49 of his 215 rushing yards on the drive, highlighted by a 22-yard run up the gut, and the momentum seemed to be shifting in SBU's favor despite trailing 14-7 after the extra point.
SBU's offense would then drive the ball down the field down to the Truman seven-yard line. On the field goal attempt, the snap nearly missed holder Nick Smart's hands, throwing off the kicker's timing, and the kick was blocked and returned 91 yards for the special teams score. After a successful point-after try, Truman led 21-7. This play alone was a 10-point swing and played a crucial part in the outcome of the game.

Continued...

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