Box Score Kirksville, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University football team put on an excellent offensive display against former MIAA opponent Truman State on Saturday, but came up just short in the contest, falling 40-37. The Bearcats collected 549 yards of total offense in the game, highlighted by 475 yards through the air.

Truman State was first to jump on the scoreboard early in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. The Bearcats would respond later in the quarter when Derwyn Lauderdale was on the receiving end of a 27 yard touchdown pass from Evan Ray to pull the Bearcats even at 7-7. Truman State would add another touchdown before the quarter came to a close, putting SBU down 14-7 heading in the second quarter.

In the second quarter the Bearcats tied the game at 14-14 when Lauderdale hauled in his second receiving touchdown of the evening, a 9 yard strike from quarterback Willie Tindal. However, Truman State would return the following kickoff back for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs back on top at 21-14. The Bearcats would allow a safety, falling behind 23-14 before Chad Nolan hauled in a 17 yard pass from Tindal with 1:25 left in the half to pull SBU within two at 23-21 going into the break.

Truman State would score two straight touchdowns, one in the third and one in the beginning of the fourth, as SBU found themselves in their biggest deficit of the evening at 37-21. However, the Bearcats would not back down.

With 11:22 left in the game, Tindal recorded his first rushing touchdown of the season with a 2 yard run, capped by a completed two-point conversion of a Zachary Sohn reception from linebacker Shaquille Shedd, to put SBU down 37-29. Later in the quarter, SBU would tie the game up at 37-37 when Ray had a 44 yard touchdown pass from Tindal, followed by a Lauderdale two-point conversion reception. The Bulldogs would kick the eventual game winning field goal with 6:00 left in the game, as SBU was unable to get back on the scoreboard late in the game.

The Bearcats had many strong individual performances on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. In Willie Tindal's first game as a quarterback for the Bearcats, he went 28-42 for 448 yards and 3 touchdown passes while also rushing for 49 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground. Derwyn Lauderdale hauled in 13 receptions for a game high 178 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Chad Nolan had five receptions for 86 yards and a score. Evan Ray played an outstanding game on both sides of the football, finishing the game with 142 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown, 27 passing yards with a touchdown, and had 7 tackles on the defensive side of the ball with an interception.

"I thought our effort and heart were tremendous," head coach Craig Schuler commented. "To come back from 16 down in the fourth quarter takes character. We were awesome at times on offense and defense, but our special teams gave away 16 points, and you just can't do that. Evan Ray had about as good a game as I've ever seen an individual have, and Willie Tindal was special too. I thought Shaquille Shedd played well on defense and Derwyn Lauderdale was outstanding. We have to come back and prepare even harder next week, because Lindenwood is going to be a lot better than Truman.

The Bearcats will return home on Saturday, September 14 when they play host to Lindenwood University. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. from Plaster Stadium in Bolivar.