Fifteen seconds stood between Oklahoma Baptist and a stunning win over Southwestern Oklahoma Thursday night in a Great American Conference showdown inside Asap Energy Field in Weatherford, Okla.
Oklahoma Baptist (2-6) had just scored to take a 35-31 lead. On the ensuing possession, however, SWOSU (4-4) took over at the Bison 36 yard line thanks to Collin Bricker’s 23-yard kickoff return and a personal foul penalty on OBU’s Stephan Turner.
The Bulldogs were down to their final play following a false start penalty and an incomplete pass. Then, on second-and-15 from the OBU 41, Marc Evans fired a Hail Mary pass towards the far corner of the end zone. After the ball was batted around, it was Bricker who came down with the ball, giving SWOSU a 37-35 win.
“It was a good play call,” Bricker said. “We had the Hail Mary formation in. I started tracking it at the five then I looked back and noticed that everybody was behind me so I just went up and tried to high point and it landed in my hands and I came down with it. Once it hit my hands, everybody from OBU was trying to knock it out but I put it in my chest and hit the ground as soon as I could. Once I heard them say ‘touchdown’ I knew it was over after that.”
Here's @dcqb12 connecting with @CollinBricker11 for the 41-yard game-winning touchdown for @SWOSUFootball. pic.twitter.com/rHyaHCGNvo
— Clinton Daily News (@ClintonDNSports) October 21, 2016
Evans finished the game with 362 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-46 passing while Bricker led the Bulldog receivers with three catches for 76 yards; Bricker was one of five SWOSU players with at least 50 yards on the night.
Yet, it was Bricker’s heroics in the final 15 seconds which had all of Weatherford – and the GAC, for that matter, buzzing.
“When you get into a late-game situation like that where you need to make a play to win a ball game, it’s nice to be able to go to your senior leaders,” said SWOSU head coach Dan Cocannouer. “Our kids never quit tonight, even when things didn’t look great with 15 seconds to play, but Collin Bricker made a heads up play on the kickoff and then an even bigger play to come down with the touchdown pass in the end zone. I’m so proud of this team, all our players and all our coaches. They deserve this win.”
SWOSU faces a daunting final three games in the regular season, with a game at GAC-leading Harding, followed by back-to-back home games against Arkansas Tech and Northwestern Oklahoma. A return to the postseason would seem to be a long-shot the Bulldogs upcoming schedule.
Yet, if Collin Bricker proved anything, it’s that anything can happen on any given night.
Photo Credit: Southwestern Oklahoma Athletics
