Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University football team dominated the ground game in a 56-33 victory over Quincy on Saturday afternoon in Bolivar. With the victory, SBU improves to 2-2 (1-1 GLVC) on the season. Running back Bubba Jenkins broke the SBU and GLVC single game rushing record (258 yards) and tied the SBU single game rushing touchdown record (5), while defensive back Antion McBee added two interceptions (6 total interceptions) to extend his NCAA leading mark.

After three scoreless drives between the two teams to open up the game, Quincy jumped on the scoreboard first with a 10 play 60 yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. The Bearcats responded right back, going to Bubba Jenkins on the ground, as he took a 14 yard rush to the house to tie the contest up at 7-7 with 1:31 left to play in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the scoring started to ramp up. Quincy used their first drive to re-take the lead at 14-7, but the SBU offense had already started rolling. Southwest Baptist used primarily rushing plays, with long runs of 25 and 14 from Nehemiah Gross and 21 from Trent Edwards II, as Jenkins punched in his second touchdown of the day to tie the game up at 14-14. After back-to-back punts, Quincy got the ball deep into SBU territory and punched in another touchdown, but a Tristyn Bennett blocked extra point made the score 20-14 QU. However, right away Jenkins added a third rushing touchdown, this one from 30 yards out, to give the Bearcats their first lead at 21-20. In true back-and-forth fashion, Quincy re-took the lead on the next drive with a 71 yard bomb to give QU a 26-21 lead, but the Bearcats once again struck right back. Trent Edwards II found Scottie Wilson Jr. down the sideline for a 57 yard touchdown pass, to put SBU back on top at 28-26. The Bearcats then recovered a fumble on the following kickoff, getting the ball deep in QU territory where Jenkins eventually ran it in from two yards out to give SBU a 35-26 lead. Quincy got the ball all the way down to the SBU 31 before running out of time, as the Bearcats took a 35-26 lead into halftime.

In the opening possession of the second half with Quincy driving, Antion McBee picked up his 5th interception of the season with an outstanding one handed pick in the middle of the field deep in SBU territory to stop any type of momentum the Hawks were gaining. Jenkins then added his 5th rushing touchdown of the day with a 55 yard scamper to extend the SBU lead to 42-26. SBU then forced a three-and-out, and a 17 yard touchdown pass from Edwards II to Nathan Mourik gave the Bearcats a 49-26 lead. Quincy bounced right back with a touchdown of their own on the following drive, cutting the lead to 49-33, and then forced a three-and-out and an SBU punt. However, the SBU defense came up big when Quinlan Gaines picked off the QU quarterback on the first play of the drive. The Bearcats then drove down to the Quincy 7 yardline as the third quarter ended.

Edwards II added a three yard rushing touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter to extend the SBU lead to 56-33. The Bearcats then melted the clock with a strong running game, and another interception from McBee, as the cruised to a 56-33 victory.

Bubba Jenkins had a record setting afternoon for the Bearcats, picking up 258 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 29 attempts, while Nehemiah Gross also topped the century mark with 124 rushing yards on 21 attempts. Trent Edwards II continues to give SBU solid play from the quarterback position, throwing for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also rushing for 66 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Antion McBee had a pair of interceptions and four tackles, while Brycen Gagnon led the way with 8 tackles for SBU.

"We started a little slow today, but got rolling in the second quarter" head coach Robert Clardy stated. "Our defense did a great job making some adjustments at halftime and held them to seven points in the second half.  We did a lot better job of finishing drives in the red zone this week and it helped get us over the edge and get the win.  We still have a lot of things to clean up and get right but I am very proud of our kids and how hard they fought today and stayed together in all three phases. Bubba [Jenkins] had such a great week of practice and that carried over into today.  Coach Vitale had the offensive line playing at a very high level and both of our backs benefited. Antion [McBee] continues to be a ball hawk and makes some amazing plays in the secondary.  He's playing at a very high level from sideline to sideline."

The Bearcats will hit the road on Saturday, October 3 when they travel to McKendree for a battle of the Bearcats. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Lebanon, Illinois.