Football Lions Fall in Muskogee

Fowler, Rice Throw TD Passes in Loss

MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma  --  The Southwestern Assemblies of God University football team is in the middle of a stretch of four road games, all in Oklahoma. The first two have not proven successful.

On Saturday they were topped by Bacone College by a 66-17 count that saw few bright spots. The Lions, now 1-4 on the season, fell to 0-2 in the Central States Football League.

Silver Linings for the Vegas Gold

Sophomore quarterback Jeremy Fowler (Caddo Mills, Tx / Caddo Mills HS) completed 25 passes for 198 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to Kolby Burns (Dallas, Tx / Duncanville Christway Academy). The score capped a seven play, 59-yard drive that cut SAGU’s deficit to 25-7 with 3:15 to play in the first half. They trailed at the half, 38-7.

James Gish (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) booted a 27 yard field goal with 11:14 left in the third quarter following a 53 yard march to the Warriors 10 yard line.

Bacone (2-4) intercepted a Lions pass later in the quarter and ran it back 100 yards to spoil another SAGU long drive. It was their defense’s second TD of the game. The other came on a fumble recovery in the end zone on the final play of the first half.

Southwestern added another touchdown late in the game. Jason Rice (Katy, Tx / Texas State University / Katy Faith West) back from a knee injury, found Micah Burditt (Midland, Tx / Robert E. Lee HS) from two yards out for the game’s final TD.

Halfback Eddie Bailey, Jr. (Milwaukee, Wisc / John Jay HS) rushed for 71 yards on eight carries to lead all SAGU ground gainers. Burns added 25 yards on five. Burditt and Bailey both snared six passes, totaling 68 and 28 yards respectively. Anthony Morris, Jr. (Houston, Tx / Alief Hastings HS) and Darion Waits (Waxahachie, Tx / Ennis HS) each had four receptions.

The Lions rolled up 16 first downs and 296 yards in total offense. The yardage was almost the team's average (327 ypg) as well as the points scored right at the team's average (18). While Southwestern ran 75 plays to the Warriors’ 63, six turnovers short-circuited their bid for a third straight win over Bacone. The Lions entered the game as the CSFL leader with a +3 in terms of turnovers gained and lost.

Next Up: Third Straight Game North of the Red River

SAGU travels to play Langston University next Saturday, October 16. It will be homecoming for the LU Lions, who have yet to schedule a game in Waxahachie. The game is slated for a 2:00pm kickoff.

Southwestern will be at Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Oct. 23. They return home to face Northwest Oklahoma State on Oct. 30. The Rangers finished in first in the CSFL last year.