Box Score | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- After jumping out to a 16-0 lead, the SBU Bearcats needed a late-game interception to secure their seventh straight victory over the St. Joseph's Pumas, 51-43. In his final game at Plaster Stadium, quarterback Steven Gachette threw for 360 yards and four touchdowns.

Charles Johnson caught the first of his three scores on a 59 yard pass from Gachette, on the game's opening drive. The catch broke the SBU single-season touchdown reception record, as Johnson now has 12. The Pumas then fumbled the following kickoff, and with an SBU recovery, SBU took control on the St. Joseph's 26 yard line. The Pumas appeared to recover just fine, when Kevin Isom picked off Gachette's pass on the first play of the drive, but a high snap on the Pumas' first play after the interception sailed over the head of quarterback Billy VandeMerkt and through the back of the end zone for a safety.

SBU would take a 16-0 lead, driving 54 yards for the touchdown after the free kick; Gachette connected with fellow senior Sean Kelley for the 21-yard catch. The early lead would prove to be the key to the Bearcats' win, as both sides exchanged touchdowns throughout the rest of the game.

The Bearcats struggled with penalties more than usual against the Pumas, and after a 15-yard penalty set up a second-and-long, Gachette threw his second interception of the day, to St. Joseph's David Wallace, who returned the pick 45 yards for the touchdown, cutting into SBU's lead, 16-7.

In the second quarter, after the Pumas had scored to make it a 23-14 Bearcat lead, Chris Muhammad pulled off the highlight of the game for the second straight week. After recovering a fumble deep in SBU territory, the Pumas were knocking on the door, about to cut the lead to withing a field goal. On the 1-yard line, Puma running back Jashon Banks lost the ball before getting in the end zone. Muhammad recovered the fumble three yards into the end zone, and took off for 103 yards and the touchdown. With the extra point, SBU took a 30-14 lead.

Just before the end of the half, Gachette scrambled for a 16-yard touchdown, giving SBU a 37-21 lead, and marking the third straight game in which the All-American quarterback had at least one rushing touchdown.

St. Joseph's cut the lead to nine with another score early in the third quarter, The Bearcats took a 81-yard drive, highlighted by Thad Everson's 17-yard touchdown. Everson covered 41 yards on the gound during the drive, and 137 yards on the day, a career-high.

The Pumas had one last chance to force the tie, with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter, down by eight. VandeMerkt took St. Joseph's down to the SBU 31-yard line, but Bearcat defensive back Anthony Wiggins sealed the win with the interception.

Shaquille Shedd led the defense with 15 total tackles, while as a defensive unit, SBU collected six sacks. Senior Ino Vitale led the team with a pair of sacks, while Casey Smith, Will Ramirez, Jr., and Chris Muhammad each had one.

With the win, SBU moves to 7-2 on the year, and have won a school-record seven straight games. Head coach Keith Allen moves to second on SBU's all-time wins list. SBU heads to Southeast Missouri State next Saturday, November 7, to take on the Division I-FCS Redhawks. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.