BOLIVAR, Mo. — Missouri S&T put together a hard-fought effort Saturday night, controlling possession and piling up 349 yards of total offense, but Southwest Baptist connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired to hand the Miners a 31-28 setback at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.
The Miners established their ground game early and answered SBU's opening touchdown with a pair of scoring drives in the first quarter. After the Bearcats' first score, the teams traded interceptions, with Reid Meekins (Houston, TX/Cypress Falls) intercepting SBU's Cooper Owens in the end zone.
The Miners' first points of the game came with around five minutes remaining in the first quarter. After Louis Traglia (Wichita, KS/Kapaun Mount Carmel) forced a fumble at the SBU22, Patrick Fortune (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) fell on it to secure the Miners' first field position in SBU territory. The Miners then capitalized on the fumble, with AJ Harris (Wentzville, MO/Lutheran-St. Charles) carrying three straight times for 22 yards — including a 10-yard touchdown run — to even the score at 7-7.
S&T's offense continued to find its rhythm late in the quarter. Evan Wells (Roxana, IL/Roxana) opened the next drive with a 15-yard run, and Reid Weber (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) added a 14-yard reception to move the Miners deep into SBU territory. Eli Scott (Louisville, KY/Eastern) then broke loose for a 10-yard run before Harris punched it in from one yard out, giving S&T a 14-7 lead with 21 seconds left in the opening quarter. The Bearcats responded with a 15-play drive, setting up a 22-yard field goal, one of two field goals in the quarter as the visitors cut the deficit to 14-13.
The Miners added another strong scoring drive just before halftime. Starting at their own 25, S&T put together a 15-play, 75-yard march that lasted 5:27, converting three third downs along the way. The Miners leaned heavily on Harris during the drive, getting an 18-yard carry from the senior that put them in SBU territory again. Scott finished off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Justis Braden (Liberty, MO/Liberty North), sending the Miners into halftime up 21-13.
S&T carried that momentum into the third quarter, putting together another extended drive that went to the SBU29 before a failed conversion on 4th down ended the drive. The Bearcats went 71 yards in five plays on the next drive, picking up gains of 19 and 20 before scoring a touchdown ona 26-yard run, making it a 21-20 game. The Miners answered with another run-heavy drive, starting things off with a 17-yard carry by AJ Harris (Wentzville, MO/Lutheran-St. Charles). The Miners quickly worked their way down to the SBU6, setting up a rushing touchdown for Scott, extending S&T's lead to 28-20.
After SBU tied the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion, the Miners put together a strong response, driving down the the Bearcats' 14 yardline. Facing a 4th and 1 at the SBU14 with 2:00 minutes remaining, the MIners elected to go for it and seal the game, but the Bearcats' defense came up with a huge stop on a rushing attempt by Braden.
Southwest Baptist then drove 68 yards in the final 1:53 and kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired.
What's Next
The Miners start a two-week road stretch next Saturday, with trips to Upper Iowa on October 3rd and to Indianapolis on October 10th.
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