Bolivar, Mo. – In a rematch between the Cardinals and Bearcats, SBU came out on top. The Bearcats outlasted the Cardinals, winning the game 32-30 thanks to phenomenal play on special teams. The win is SBU's first conference win of the season, improving the Bearcats to 3-3 (1-2 GLVC).
 
The Cardinals received the ball first, but on their third play Cory Hanger forced a fumble and recovered it to give SBU possession on the WJC 25-yard line. SBU did not waste the opportunity, as they scored 4 plays later on a 1-yard Brenden Smith touchdown run. William Jewell brushed off the turnover, as they drove the field on their next drive to take a 7-6 lead. As the Bearcats marched down the field, an 88-yard pick-six put the Cardinals up 14-6.
 
The Bearcats began a drive beginning in the 1^st quarter and continuing into the 2^nd, which led to a 4^th and 2 failed conversion to give the Cardinals possession once again. Another long drive was put together by the Cardinals, but Jeremiah Scroggins forced a fumble and Aaron Harris recovered it, setting up the SBU offense deep in their own territory. A holding call forced SBU to a 2^nd and 18 on the SBU 32 where they got 12 of those yards back on a Brenden Smith connection with Rashad Blunt, but an incomplete pass on third down forced a punt. The SBU defense held strong on the next WJC drive and forced a punt as well, but the offense wasn't needed as Cory Hanger returned the punt 75 yards to the house. Bearcats trailed 13-14 with 1:56 left in the half. Another defensive stop led to another punt, special teams coming up once again. DeMarco Grayson broke through the line and blocked the punt where Jeremiah Scroggins returned it all the way for an SBU touchdown, 19-14 SBU. The Cardinals had two huge plays to set them up 1^st and goal from the SBU 9, and just as the Cardinal runner was about to score, DJ Davis forced another fumble and Aaron Harris recovered it in the end zone. The first half ended with a 19-14 Bearcat lead.
 
Beginning the third quarter with the ball, a nice drive by the Bearcats was capped off with a 53-yard touchdown run by Eric Knight, pushing SBU's lead to 26-14. SBU's defense held strong again, getting the ball back after just 5 plays. Bryce Cabrera had a 22-yard run in the next drive, and Brenden Smith finished the drive with a run up the middle for a wide open 23-yard touchdown, 32-14 SBU. William Jewell scored right before the end of the quarter to make the score 32-21 heading into the fourth.
 
An interception gave the visitors the ball back early in the quarter where the scored again, 32-27 SBU. The Cardinals came away with points on their next possession, nailing a 43-yard field goal to cut SBU's lead to just 32-30. The Bearcats got the ball back with 4:51 and wouldn't give the Cardinals another chance. On a 3^rd and 2 attempt, Eric Knight pushed forward for 3 yards to keep the drive alive. The very next play he broke free for 15 yards, another fresh set of downs. SBU was able to run the ball enough to waste the remaining time on the clock, sealing a 32-30 win.
 
The Bearcats rode the run game for 266 total yards, Brenden Smith accounting for 124 of those and Eric Knight piling up 113. Between those two, there were 3 rushing touchdowns. Cory Hanger had a heck of a game as well, making 11 tackles, forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble, and returning a punt for a touchdown.
 
The Quincy Hawks are next on the schedule for SBU, as the teams meet in Bolivar for homecoming on Saturday, October 19 with kickoff at 1 PM.