Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University football team lost a heart-breaking game to William Jewell 35-34 on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Bearcats fall to 2-5 (1-4 GLVC) on the season.

William Jewell was the first to strike, connecting on a 39 yard field goal with 9:19 left in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals added a one yard touchdown run from Trejuan Mask to put WJC up 10-0 with 4:01 left in the quarter, and a three yard touchdown run from Nick West put Jewell up 17-0 with 12:22 left in the half. With 8:30 left in the first half, the Bearcat offense put together a strong drive to get on the scoreboard. Trent Edwards II found Nathan Mourik for completions of 13 and 42 yards, coupled with three Jewell penalties, and a Bubba Jenkins 1 yard rushing touchdown put SBU down 17-7. Jewell would add a 35 yard field goal with 1 second left in the half, as SBU went into the break trailing 20-3.

To open up the second half, the Bearcats were forced to punt but the SBU defense came up big in the following Jewell offensive possession. After forcing a 4th and 8 on the SBU 39 yardline, Quinton Doswell had a big sack to force a turnover on downs. Two plays later, Edwards II hit Bubba Jenkins on a shovel pass, where Jenkins took the ball 57 yards to cut the deficit down to 20-14. Jewell responded back later in the quarter with a 76 yard touchdown pass, as SBU trailed 26-14. In the Bearcats final drive of the 3rd quarter, SBU used a pair of WJC penalties to help move the ball in Jewell territory as the quarter ended. On 4th and 12, Edwards II hit Kendrick Payne down the middle of the field for a 20 yard reception, putting SBU on the Jewell on the 2 yardline. Edwards II then finished off the drive with a 2 yard touchdown run as SBU pulled within five at 26-21.

On the following Jewell possession, Doswell picked up his second interception of the day, giving the SBU offense the ball back in WJC territory. Edwards II wasted no time, finding Nathan Mourik for a 40 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive, giving the Bearcats a 27-26 lead. On Jewell's first play of their next drive, Brycen Gagnon had a huge strip sack, with the Bearcats recovering the football and once again giving the offense excellent field position. SBU took advantage, and on a 3rd and 24, Edwards II found Mourik in the endzone once again, this one for 34 yards, as the Bearcats extended their lead to 34-26. However, Jewell hung around, scoring a touchdown on their following possession, but a failed two-point conversion put SBU up 34-32. William Jewell then connected on a 52 yard field goal with 1:12 left in the contest, but the SBU offense would once again make it interesting. Edwards II hit Mourik with a 50 yard pass, but SBU on the Jewell 27 yardline, but the WJC defense held as SBU would fall 35-34.

Nathan Mourik put together his best game of the season, hauling in 7 passes for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Trent Edwards II threw for 311 yards with 3 touchdowns, while on the ground Bubba Jenkins had 67 yards on 16 rushes to go along with one score. Defensively, Tyler Curts had a huge game, collecting a career high 19 tackles while Quinton Doswell had 2 interceptions and a sack in the loss.

The Bearcats will continue their two-game homestand on Saturday, October 24 when they host St. Joseph's (IN). Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Plaster Stadium in Bolivar.