GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Southwestern Pirates opened the game with a 14-0 lead but couldn't maintain the lead as Denison came from behind for the 49-31 win in Granville, Ohio Saturday evening.

Junior quarterback Frederick Hover led the Pirates down the field on the opening drive for a seven play, 68 yard drive capped off by an 11 yard touchdown run by Hover for the early 7-0 lead. After a turnover on downs and a pair of punts the Pirates went 47 yards on three plays to make it 14-0 on a 47 yard touchdown pass from Hover to junior wide receiver Landry Bray with 27 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Denison scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14 before sophomore kicker Luke Fierst connected on a 25 yard field goal to cap off an 11 play 70 yard drive to give the Pirates a 17-14 lead headed into the locker room.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Denison's quarterback Canaan Gebele ran for 65 yards and a score to give The Big Red their first lead of the night at 21-17. Hover and Southwestern answered right back with an eight play, 67 yard drive as Hover dove into the endzone from one yard out to give the Pirates a 24-21 lead with 10:49 to go in the third. Denison responded with 28 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters to take a 49-24 lead.

Southwestern finished the scoring with a ten play 84 yard drive that cumulated in a 39 yard touchdown pass from Hover to junior tight end AJ Daniels and make the final score 49-31.

The Pirates will open the home portion of the schedule with their inaugural game in the American Southwest Conference on Saturday, September 9th against McMurry. Kick off from Birkelbach Field is slated for 7 p.m.