The Omnibus

Smart sets MIAA single-season record

Bearcats fall to 0-8 on the year after being pounded by Gorillas

Chris Dutschmann

Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports

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Senior Nick Smart makes yards after one of his MIAA record-breaking receptions. Smart now has the MIAA record for most receptions in a singe season. The Bearcats and Smart dropped their last game 42-23 to Pittsburg State.

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On a windy Saturday afternoon at Plaster Stadium, the Southwest University Bearcats squared off against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. After being shut down offensively for most of the game, the Bearcats (0-8, 0-6 in MIAA) came out on the losing end once again, this time with a 42-23 loss at the hands of the Gorillas (6-2, 4-2 in MIAA).
The Bearcats kicked off to begin the game, and the defense was able to hold the high-powered Pitt State offense to a three-and-out on its first drive.
The SBU offense would then follow suit with a three-and-out of its own. The special teams, however, came up big on the punt as junior Robert Barrow popped the ball out of the returner's hands, and junior Jonathan Alvarado scooped up the ball and fell on the ball at the Gorilla nine-yard line.
After starting off this drive with a first down and goal, the Bearcat offense would not be able to move the ball any further than the three-yard line, and freshman kicker Greg Downey was able to punch the ball through the uprights for an early 3-0 Bearcat lead.
The Pitt State offense would bounce back with three unanswered scores, on a pair of touchdown runs by RB Caleb Farabi and a run by RB Todd Hertzog, putting the Gorillas up 21-3.
After Farabi's second touchdown run of the afternoon, the Bearcat offense began on its own 20 after a touchback on the kickoff. Freshman QB Steve Gachette marched the SBU offense down the field 80 yards for the touchdown after Gachette kept the ball on an option play and strolled in six yards for the score. The drive was highlighted after Gachette hit senior WR Nick Smart on a short slant to the left and Smart did most of the legwork as he ended up with a 49-yard reception, which left the offense only 23 yards left to find the end zone. The kicking game failed to convert another point-after attempt, making the score 21-9.

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