Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU football team opened their three-game homestand behind a packed crowd at Plaster Stadium. The large crowd of Bearcat fans watched their team defeat the Oklahoma Panhandle Aggies 42-10, moving the team to 1-1 on the season.
 
Senior Regan Wilson opened the scoring for Southwest Baptist with a 34-yard pass touchdown from quarterback Drew Boxwell. Shortly there after sophomore Jobe Smith ran for a 23-yard touchdown putting SBU up 14-3. Two more touchdowns happened in the 1^st half when Jordan Kent caught a 34-yard and 22-yard TD reception from Boxwell putting SBU up 28-3 at half. Boxwell threw one more pass touchdown to Kamau Ransom early into the second half. The final score for SBU was Kaliel Boyd who returned a 45-yard interception to the house.
 
SBU running back Smith had a career game running for 136 net rushing yards, four more yards than his entire 2023 season. Off 13 carries, he averaged 10.5 yards per carry along with is one touchdown. Kent had three receptions in the whole game for a total of 71 yards and two touchdowns.
 
SBU defense was stagnant across the board with nearly 30 total Bearcats recording a tackle. Jahaad Fort led all Bearcats with seven total tackles, six being solo and one tackle for loss of seven yards. Caleb Saner tagged along three total tackles to go along with his solo sack of 9 yards. Junior Gavin Bellah recorded only two tackles in the game and both were for a loss.
 
SBU ends non-conference play and begin Great Lakes Valley Conference action starting next Saturday. The Bearcats continue their homestand on Saturday September 21^st at 1pm as they host Upper Iowa University. They look to bounce back from their loss to the Peacocks in Fayette last season. This game is also the Make-A-Wish game where the Bearcats will get to honor and recognize a special Make-A-Wish child.