BOLIVAR, MO – After trailing Missouri Western 21-0 late in the third quarter, the SBU Bearcats staged a furious comeback and fell just short of the #16 Griffons, losing 24-21. The Bearcats had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the game, but freshman quarterback John McCoy's pass into the endzone was picked off by Western's J.R. Graham.

Despite the loss, Bearcat coach Jack Peavey was encouraged by effort of his team, especially in the second half. “No loss is fun, but this is all part of the process. It's a tough mountain we're trying to climb. We were missing our starting quarterback, top wide receiver and starting center but had new players step up.” Peavey said that the team was discouraged after their first half offensive effort, when the 'Cats were unable to score or move the ball and gained only 61 yards total. But he said that the late third and fourth quarter felt like what college football should feel like, as the team charged back into the game.

Missouri Western (8-1, 6-1) went on top in the first quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Jeremiah White. The Griffons would be up 14-0 at halftime following another 2-yard TD run in the second quarter by Jamison Burns. White would add his second score in the third period to put the Griffons up 21-0.

SBU was starting to move the ball in the third quarter but McCoy was stripped of the ball at midfield. But the Bearcats got it right back when DE David Martin sacked MWSU quarterback Michael Burton and the ball popped in the air and into the hands of SBU's Will Ramirez.

A few plays later, McCoy would find Derrick Foster in the endzone from 35 yards out and the Bearcats were finally on the board, with just five seconds remaining in the third quarter. The SBU defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive and the 'Cats would quickly drive and score again, this time on a 13-yard run by senior Moine Nicholson. This pulled SBU to within seven at 21-14.

Missouri Western's Dustin Strickler would kick a 22-yard field goal to push the lead to ten points. The Bearcats moved the ball effectively down field again, but had a 32-yard FG attempt by Ryan Smith blocked by Greg Carbin. The Bearcat defense would hold again and SBU got the ball back at their 43-yard line with just over three minutes remaining.

The Bearcats would strike quickly when McCoy hit senior WR Robert Woodson on 57-yard touchdown pass. Woodson beat the defense deep and raced across the field to the pylon, making a dazzling stop-and-start cut to avoid defenders before crossing the goal line. The smallest man on the field, SBU kicker Ryan Smith, would then recover his onside kick, giving SBU their last opportunity. The 'Cats moved the ball to the Missouri Western 21-yard line, before being intercepted just shy of the endzone on a third and eleven pass attempt. The Griffons would run out the clock, barely escaping with the three point victory.

John McCoy led the 'Cats, completing 20 of 38 passes for 220 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. McCoy also gained 52 yards on the ground while Moine Nicholson added 53 yards and a touchdown run. Robert Woodson and Derrick Foster each had six catches and one score, with Woodson gaining 97 yards and Foster picking up 74 yards. Western's Jeremiah White had 120 yards rushing on 27 carries and scored twice. Defensively the Bearcats were led by Robert Barrow who had 11 tackles (5 solo), Dontrallius Burrows with nine stops (6 solo) along with David Martin and Jarred Schumpert, who had seven tackles each. Martin also had two sacks, pushing his total to 7.5 for the season.

Next week the Bearcats travel to Kirksville, to take on the surprising Bulldogs of Truman State. Kickoff will be at 12 p.m.