TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The SBU Bearcats lost to Northeastern State, 45-20, to even SBU's record at 4-4.
SBU's quarterback, Steve Gachette, was 27-50-2 for 321 yards, which included two touchdown passes. He rushed for 43 yards. Johnnie King, SBU's leading receiver today, caught 6 passes for 114 yards.
SBU took 80 snaps on offense today, which was their second-lowest total of the season (73 against Northwest Missouri). The Bearcats recorded 17 first downs, a season low.
The Bearcats found themselves in a 3-touchdown hole to begin the game. The hungry Riverhawk offense put together scoring drives of 71 yards (9 plays), 68 yards (7 plays), and 60 yards (8 plays) to get out to an early 21-0 lead over SBU.
With just over 5 minutes left in the half, the Bearcat offense showed some life, putting together a couple of long scoring drives of their own. Gachette picked up some good yardage on the first drive, mostly on passes to Johnnie King and John Austin. Jeff Finnell ran the ball in from a yard out for SBU's first points of the afternoon. SBU scored their second touchdown just 2 ½ minutes later, as Gachette hit King on a deep pattern down the middle, finding the end zone after the 55-yard reception.
The 55-yard touchdown to King gave Gachette the SBU record for most passing touchdowns in a season, passing Chris Lowe's mark of 19, set in the 2001 season.
Neither team could really get things going to begin the second half, proved by 5 changes of possession in the first 4 ½ minutes of the third quarter. The fifth, unfortunately for the Bearcats, came on Gachette pass, intercepted by Northeastern's Jon Evan's, carrying the ball deep into SBU territory. Moments later, NSU's quarterback, Kaelin Woods hit Damien Henderson on a 12-yard pass for a touchdown, giving the Riverhawks a 28-14 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the third quarter.
Jaren Homer tacked on a 39-yard field goal, giving NSU a 31-14 lead with 10:37 to play in the game. Two minutes later, the Riverhawks added another touchdown to extend the lead to 38-14.
With two minutes remaining, Gachette hit Sean Kelly with a 17-yard touchdown strike to cap a 10-play, 69-yard drive, making the score 38-20 (two-point conversion unsuccessful).
Northeastern tacked on another touchdown with 54 seconds remaining, making the score 45-20, which held for the final.
SBU's Tyrin Holt, the reigning ICAA Defensive Player of the Week, led SBU in tackles today with 8.
Today's point output of 20 is the lowest of the season for the Bearcats.
The loss gives SBU a 4-4 record, as they come home for two straight, beginning with Ouachita Baptist next Saturday (October 25), 1:30 at Plaster Stadium.
Final Stats
