Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University football team played a great game against Fort Hays, coming back from being down as many as 11 points, but ultimately lost the game 37-34 in overtime.

The Bearcats were the first to strike in the first quarter when Dan Connors hit Brad Sundstrom with a 30 yard pass to give SBU a 7-0 lead with 5:59 left in the first quarter. Hays would score back-to-back touchdowns to go up 14-7 before John Colliver would hit a career long 47 yard field goal with 00:02 left in the half to pull SBU with 4 at 14-10.

Both offenses exploded in the second half of play. Fort Hays would score the first touchdown of the second half before SBU responded with a score of their own. With 4:44 left in the third quarter, Connors found Derwyn Lauderdale wide open in the endzone for an 11 yard touchdown pass, putting SBU down 21-17. The Bearcats would take their first lead since the first quarter on a 5 yard touchdown run by Robert McWright, right after an 83 yard pass from Connors to Lauderdale.  On the following possession, SBU cornerback Evan Ray picked off the FHSU quarterback and returned it 46 yards for the touchdown to put SBU up 31-21.

Fort Hays continued to battle adding 10 points in the fourth quarter, with the game tying touchdown occurring with 3 seconds left to play, to force the game to overtime. In OT, Colliver hit a 35 yard field goal, but Fort Hays responded with a touchdown to claim the 37-34 victory.

Dan Connors threw for a season high 251 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Derwyn Lauderdale had 3 receptions for 101 yards and a score. On the ground, Robert McWright led the way with 45 yards on 8 carries with a touchdown.

Defensively Shaquille Shedd led SBU with a game high 17 tackles, while Ivan Hodges added 10. Shedd's 17 tackles tops the MIAA this season for a single game and Ray's interception was the only turnover for either team.

The Bearcats will hit the road on October 20 when they travel to Kearney, Nebraska to take on Nebraska-Kearney. Kickoff has yet to be set for the game.