GEORGETOWN - The Southwestern University football team crossed the endzone with 1:31 to play in the fourth quarter to make it a 21-19 game against Louisiana College; however, the two point conversion fell just a yard short while the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Wildcats as Louisiana College escaped Birkelback Field with a win on Saturday night.
The two teams were nearly identical in total offense with Southwestern going for 315 including 199 on the ground while Louisiana College had 300 with 293 coming through the air. The SU defense got two turnovers while the Wildcats came away with one.
After both teams exchanged possessions, the Pirates went on an eight play, 76 yard drive eating up 4:05 on the clock as junior Frederick Hover connected with senior AJ Daniels for a 20 yard score and a 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats answered immediately, going 75 yards in seven plays with a heavy dose of Skyler Bonneau to JoJo Robinson to get deep into SU territory. Bonneau would complete the drive with a 15 yard strike to Drake Battaglia to even the game.
Southwestern would close the first quarter with a turnover as junior Nicolas Smith forced a fumble and sophomore Ben Brockman scooped up the loose ball deep in LC territory. The Pirates could not find the endzone off the turnover but junior Luke Fierst connected on a 25 yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.
After a Wildcat three and out, Southwestern went on a 10 play drive into LC territory, but turned the ball over on downs. However, on the very next play Brockman came up big again with an interception and SU was again in business.
The Pirates, again, could not find the endzone, but Fierst came away with his second field goal of the game, this time from 33 yards out, to increase the lead to 13-7.
Louisiana College closed the half with a 10 play, 64 yard drive thanks in part to another huge catch from Robinson, setting up a two yard touchdown pass from Bonneau to Zion Williams and giving the Wildcats a sudden 14-13 lead going into the break.
The Wildcat defense stepped up and stifiled the Pirate offense for the third quarter. A fake punt gone wrong gave Louisiana College great field position at the SU 40. The Wildcats responded with a 6 play, 40 yard drive capped by a 13 yard touchdown pass from Bonneau to Robinson.
Southwestern knocked on the door in the fourth quarter after their defense got a huge three and out, but were stopped on fourth down on the LC 27. The Pirates got the ball back with 6:51 to go and took 5:20 off the clock, using all of their timeouts in the process, eventually finding the endzone, but unable to convert the two point conversion.
Hover finished 12 of 24 for 116 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 22 times for 82 yards. Sophomore Kalon Heim rushed 12 times for 55 yards while junior Allante' Shines caught three passes for 37 yards.
For LC, Bonneau went 21 of 37 for 293 yards and three scores while Robinson caught 11 balls for 193 yards and score.
For the SU defense, Brockman was excellent with six tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Junior Aaron Robinson led the way with nine tackles and a tackle for loss while junior Hayden Smith had six tackles.
For the Wildcats, Orel Ledet, Jr. led the defense with 16 tackles and a tackle for loss while Jacob Joffrion had 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Southwestern got to 2-2 on the season and 1-2 in the ASC. They return to action next Saturday as they hit the road to take on No. 2 ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6 PM.