ALPINE, Texas — The Southwestern University Pirates football team surrendered a pair of huge passing plays, accounting for two Sul Ross State touchdowns on their way to a 25-16 victory over the Pirates.
Southwestern struck first, getting a 35-yard field goal from Wil Herbst to cap off an eight-play, 60-yard drive highlighted by a 30-yard pass from Landry Gilpin to Anfernee Stephens and a pair of 15-yard penalties.
The Pirate defense seized momentum, forcing a Sul Ross State three-and-out on the ensuing possession with a big sack on third-and-six by Jason Lund. Gilpin opened the Pirates' possession with a 47-yard pass to Adrian Garza on the second play of the drive, getting the ball to the Sul Ross State 15-yard line. Brady French picked up another first down with a 10-yard run to the five-yard line.
After the offense stalled with incomplete passes and a penalty to take the Pirates back to the 11-yard line, Gilpin was picked off by James Milo.
Sul Ross State capitalized with a 10-play, 96-yard drive punctuated by a 51-yard touchdown on a pass from Clayton Maxwell to Dre'Chan Moody for the 7-3 lead after the extra point. After both teams exchanged a pair of three-and-out possessions, Maxwell found Moody against for a 41-yard touchdown, giving Sul Ross State a 15-3 lead after a successful two-point conversion.
The two plays accounted for almost half of Maxwell's 189 yards passing, with Sul Ross State's quarterback completing 11-of-20 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
For the second week in a row, a blocked field goal cost the Pirates, setting up a 35-yard Sul Ross State field goal as time expired in the first half to give them an 18-3 lead.
Southwestern found its offensive footing in the third quarter, working with good field position off a Sul Ross State punt to their own 48. Gilpin opened the drive with a 10-yard pass to Austin Castilleja and then a 26-yard completion to Ethan Powell, adding six more yards on an unnecessary roughness penalty. On the next play, Gilpin found Castilleja for the first Southwestern touchdown, cutting the deficit to 18-9 with the extra point attempt blocked.
The Pirate defense followed by forcing another three-and-out, and the offense responded with a 69-yard Mason Biggers touchdown on a pass from Gilpin to pull Southwestern within two after the extra point at 18-16.
Southwestern had an opportunity to take the lead late but missed two field goals, with the second attempt getting blocked.
Sul Ross State put the game away with a nine-play, 44-yard drive finished by a seven-yard Ozias Wright touchdown run with 3:52 remaining to seal it.
With the loss, Southwestern finishes the season winless at 0-5. Sul Ross State improves to 1-4.