Quick recap of homecoming win

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Well, it was a win. The defense and the offense scored two apiece. There was a missed field goal and a missed extra point. We scored a single touchdown in three redzone trips. We committed 11 penalties (three were declined). We had three turnovers. (Why do I have it stuck in my head that Nathan Dick fumbled in the game? Did that not happen? And if it did, why don’t I see that in the play-by-play summary?) We were beaten in just about every single statistical category. And we still beat Southeastern Louisiana 30-23.

The defense came up with key redzone stops. If you cringed when thinking about our offense in the redzone, SELA was an even worse 0-for-3. Well, they were 3-for-3 technically, but they were forced to kick field goals each time.

The defense also gave up two touchdown plays from outside the redzone, meaning 20+ yards. Dominque Brown followed up the team’s second INT return for a touchdown – that felt like it would be the final nail for the Lions – by getting beat on a 54-yard touchdown pass just over two minutes later that set the final score at 30-23.

But even at that point it should have been a much more comfortable two-score game. Instead, the kicking game continues to struggle, and we left four points out there – wide left.

The offense sputtered along throughout the game, but when SELA took a 10-6 lead, the Bears responded with a touchdown drive capped by a great effort from Dominque Croom who went up over the defender for a 28-yard touchdown reception with just 12 seconds remaining in the half.

Running back Terence Bobo had four touches in the first half. With the 13-10 halftime lead, Bobo had six touches on the opening drive of the second half. The last of those was a 12-yard catch and run for a touchdown. Bobo accounted for 59 of 80 yards on the drive. Then, he only got the ball two more times in the quarter. A little puzzling. The run game continued the season’s struggles for the most part. Bobo did effectively end the game with a 56-yard run that brought out the victory offense. And he was the only one to have success on the ground. Bobo finished with 157 total yards (105 rushing and 52 receiving).

The Bears had a chance earlier to put the game away. I was yelling at Willie Landers to stay in bounds to keep the clock running after he caught a short pass. Turns out getting out of bounds would have been better. Landers fumbled at the 32 and gave the Lions a short field to go for the tie. That’s when Jestin Love did what he’s done a lot of lately, his second interception of the day. (His earlier pick was returned 25 yards for a touchdown.)

Love shared the LB Jackmon award with linebacker Frank Newsome. Newsome had 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Love added five tackles to his two picks. Seniors Tok Opeloye and Markell Carter both had solid games, and Jermayne Lett had probably his best game of the season with two sacks.

Bears win at Nicholls State

A collection of the stories that followed Saturday’s first conference win of the season.

• Quick score provides octane for Bears’ victory
  

  “I said after the game we might have to throw every stinking down but we don’t want to do that. I don’t want to put our defense in a bad situation that they have to get back on the field too fast because we can’t drive the ball. I want to get in a position n on third down that we can do what we want to do — either run or pass.”
  . . .
  INJURIES: Tight end Brennan Rushing and offensive lineman Matt Dickerson did not make the trip because of injuries. Conque said he hopes to have both back this week.

• Bears strike within 13 seconds in 31-7 victory over Colonels
  

  The Bears intercepted two passes, blocked a field goal attempt and forced two fumbles as the defense scored twice. The defenders, led by linebackers Tok Opeloye, Frank Newsome and Justin Heard, had had 10 sacks.
  . . .
  “We continue to not be able to run the football,” Conque said. “We refuse to knock people off the ball. We may have to throw the ball every stinking down.”

• Rough start too much to overcome