Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU football team put together a furious fourth-quarter comeback Saturday afternoon, scoring 35 points in the final period before falling just short against undefeated Roosevelt University, 59-56, at Plaster Stadium. The loss moves the Bearcats to 1-2 on the season.
SBU found itself in an early battle against a Roosevelt team that entered the weekend 2-0. The Bearcats answered the Lakers' opening touchdown with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jaron Saunders to Camden Cooper, tying the game at seven. Roosevelt responded with 10 straight points, but Saunders connected with Peyton Rasmussen for a 12-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to bring SBU back within three.
After Roosevelt pushed its advantage back to 10, the Bearcats once again responded. Saunders found Marcus Rhoden for a four-yard touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the half, cutting the deficit to 24-21. However, the Lakers answered just 17 seconds later with a 74-yard touchdown pass to take a 31-21 advantage into halftime.
Roosevelt took control in the third quarter, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to build a 52-21 advantage heading into the final period. Despite trailing by 31 points, the Bearcats refused to go away.
Cooper Owens took over at quarterback and helped ignite an incredible fourth-quarter rally. Owens connected with Rhoden for a 39-yard touchdown before scoring on a four-yard run himself less than two minutes later. Roosevelt answered to make it 59-35, but SBU continued to fight.
Owens found Jaden Mays for a 76-yard touchdown with 1:25 remaining, cutting the deficit to 17. The Bearcats then recovered an onside kick and needed just 46 seconds to score again as Owens connected with Rhoden from two yards out. SBU recovered another onside kick and Owens once again found Rhoden, this time for a 16-yard touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. The score brought SBU all the way back within three at 59-56 after trailing by 31 entering the fourth quarter.
The comeback would ultimately run out of time, but the Bearcats finished the afternoon with 35 fourth-quarter points, 554 yards of total offense and 32 first downs. SBU outgained Roosevelt 554-540 while producing 354 yards through the air and 200 on the ground.
Owens provided a major spark off the bench, completing 9-of-12 passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Saunders finished 18-of-26 for 175 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Bearcats seven passing touchdowns on the afternoon.
Rhoden turned in a career afternoon, hauling in five receptions for 91 yards and four touchdowns, including three scores during the fourth-quarter rally. His four receiving touchdowns on the game is tied for second most in school history. Mays added 90 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Rasmussen finished with 74 yards and a score. Jobe Smith led the rushing attack with 93 yards on 20 carries.
Defensively, Ricky Woodhouse led the Bearcats with 11 tackles, while Hayden Wolfe added nine.
SBU will look to bounce back next Saturday as the Bearcats remain home to begin GLVC play against William Jewell College at 6:00pm.
