Choctaws Drop Wild One to Sul Ross in Overtime, 49-42
ALPINE, TX - The Mississippi College football team made up deficits of 21 and 14 points, but it was Sul Ross State that came away victorious with a 49-42 win in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field.
Senior quarterback Tommy Reyer accounted for five MC touchdowns, tossing four scores for the second consecutive week. The Athens, AL native threw for 230 yards and rushed for 29 more.
Sul Ross State jumped out to a 21-0 lead on two touchdown passes by Scotty Walden and touchdown run from Dominique Carson. For the game, Carson rushed for 177 yards and three scores.
The Choctaws got on the board first with 6:38 remaining in the first half on a 29-yard pass from Reyer to freshman DeMarrion Buford-Hughes. The rookie caught five passes for 132 yards and and two scores for the second straight week.
Senior Bryce Brewer blocked a punt and set up a nine-yard scoring run by Reyer to cut the lead to 21-14. MC knotted the game at halftime when Buford-Hughes caught a 20-yard pass from Reyer as time expired.
On their first drive of the second half, MC took the lead for the first time when junior Demetrius Randolph caught a 10-yard scoring pass and made the score, 28-21.
The Lobos answered back with 21 straight points for the second time in the game as Carson scored two rushing touchdowns and Walden scrambled in from 16 yards out. Sul Ross took a 42-28 lead after the scoring outburst.
The back-and-forth contest wasn't over yet, as Reyer found sophomore Austin Gray for a 36-yard touchdown reception, the first of his career. The Choctaws then recovered a fumbled kickoff and senior running back Steven Knight scored on a one-yard touchdown run with just 5:30 remaining to tie the game.
Both teams had drives in the final minutes, but neither team could score and the game went into overtime. The Lobos got the ball first and Walden found Cordrick Mobley in the back of the end zone to give Sul Ross the 49-42 advantage.
The Choctaws could not answer as a last gasp attempt into the end zone could not be hauled in, and the Lobos came away with the win.
Walden threw for 272 yards and three scores, while junior receiver Lee Carothers caught three passes for 117 yards.
Seniors Jarrad Craine and Sam Maze led MC with eight tackles apiece. Senior Blake Rowell extended his conference lead in tackles for loss with 2.5 in the contest.
The Choctaws finish their home schedule next weekend when they celebrate "Senior Day" at Robinson-Hale Stadium. The Choctaws will host Texas Lutheran at 1:00 p.m.
