Aggie Homecoming game ends in 1-point loss in OT

October 28, 2012

OPSU’s Dominique Guest takes down SWAGU’s  Darrian McCarthy during the first quarter of the Homecoming game Saturday. Staff photo/John Plestina

GOODWELL—If there is such a thing as a photo finish in football, it happened to the Aggies in the overtime period that ended the Homecoming game at Carl Wooten Field Saturday.
So much for horseracing terminology.
In plain football talk, regulation play ended with the score knotted at 21-21 in Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s Homecoming game Saturday. Each team scored in overtime with Southwest Assemblies of God University, of Waxahachie, Texas, winning 28-27.
The Aggies started the overtime period for their allotted series of downs on the Lions’ 25-yard-line. Nick Collins gained eight yards on the first carry. Justice Patterson then rushed to inside the 5-yard-line for a first and goal advantage, putting the Aggies in easy striking distance. Patterson carried the ball across the goal line for the touchdown. An attempted 2-point conversion failed.
SWAGU quarterback Reid Golson scored the winning touchdown. A kick was good for an extra point.
Despite the final score, the Aggies did a lot of things right.
Collins had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
With scoring deficits of 7-0 after the first quarter and 14-7 after the second frame, the Aggies scored 14 second-half points and held the Lions scoreless after halftime until the final touchdown in overtime.
The Aggies outplayed the Lions with 272 rushing yards on 46 carries compared to just 155 on 38 carries by SWAGU. OPSU beat the Lions in the air, too, passing for 113 yards. SWAGU passed for 84.
OPSU was three of five scoring in the red zone.
Justin Billiot led Aggie rushing with 136 yards on seven carries.
Several things hurt OPSU.
Yellow polyester flags hit the grass eight times during OPSU possession for a total loss of 238 yards on penalties. SWAGU lost 87 yards on penalties.
Turnovers also hurt the Aggies with the Lions recording four interceptions. OPSU lost the ball to fumbles twice and SWAGU lost it once.
Two attempted Aggie field goals failed.
Aggie head coach Russell Gaskamp assigned blame to too many turnovers and a few missed opportunities.
“We missed two field goals. They beat is in turnovers,” he said.
“This is going to test our mettle,” Gaskamp said of the tough loss.
Now the Aggies have to move forward.
Two regular season games remain with Wayland Baptist University visiting next Saturday at 2 p.m., and the Aggies host Langston University Nov. 10.
The Aggies record is now 3-5.

SWAGU 7 14 0 0 7—28
OPSU 0 7 7 7 6—27

1st quarter
SWAGU—Landry Martinez, 44-yard run (James Gish kick), 3:31
2nd quarter
SWAGU—Mohammad Mansray, 10-yard interception return (Gish kick), 10:24
OPSU—Nick Collins, 95-yard kickoff return (Carlos Nieto kick), 10:11
SWAGU—Reid Golson, 7-yard run (Gish kick), 00:20
3rd quarter
OPSU—Justin Billiot, 15-yard run (Nieto kick), 8:32
4th quarter
OPSU—Billiot, 93-yard run (Nieto kick), 1:15
Overtime
OPSU—Justice Patterson. 4-yard-run (Billiot rush failed)
SWAGU—Golson 25-yard run (Gish kick)