WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The East Central University football team traveled to Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Saturday for a GAC road battle. The Tigers got off to a promising start but couldn't maintain the momentum, eventually falling 38-14 at Flex-Chem Field.
 
With the loss, ECU falls to 5-3 in Great American Conference play, while SWOSU improves to 4-4. The Tigers will return to Ada for their last home game of the season against Southern Arkansas University on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 pm.
 
The Tigers started quickly, jumping out to a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the game on a 74-yard touchdown connection from Sergio Kennedy to Brooks Rigney. But SWOSU, fueled by Homecoming energy, responded immediately with a touchdown of their own and maintained pressure throughout the first half.
 
The Bulldogs forced ECU to punt on most drives while steadily building their lead, adding another touchdown in the first quarter and 10 unanswered points in the second to take a 24-7 advantage into halftime.
 
ECU struggled to find consistency in the second half. The Tigers remained scoreless in the third quarter as SWOSU extended its lead to 31-7. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored again before ECU responded with another long touchdown pass to Rigney, this time a 55-yard strike, trimming the deficit to 38-14.
 
The Tigers' defense forced a punt on the next possession, and ECU began a promising 10-play, 46-yard drive. However, an interception halted the drive, preventing ECU from adding to the scoreboard. Later, Elijah Alexander recovered a fumble to give ECU another opportunity, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize, resulting in a turnover on downs.
 
SWOSU sealed the game late when a punt near the two-minute mark bounced off an ECU player and was recovered by the Bulldogs, allowing them to maintain possession and run out the clock.
 
ECU was unable to fully recover from the early setback, as SWOSU outgained the Tigers 453 to 237 in total offense and converted 8 of 17 third downs compared to just 1 of 12 for ECU. The Tigers showed flashes through the air with two long touchdown connections but struggled to sustain drives and generate consistent offense, allowing SWOSU's balanced attack and efficiency to ultimately decide the game.
 
Brooks Rigney led the Tigers through the air, hauling in both of ECU's touchdowns on big plays, including a 74-yard and a 55-yard reception to finish with a career-high 129 receiving yards. On the ground, Quincy Thompson contributed 52 yards on 10 carries.
 
Defensively, Du'Wayne Paulhill, Caden Pickens, and Amajah Lewis each recorded 11 total tackles, while Seth Spady and Oladotun Olanipekun added 1.5 tackles for loss apiece. Justin McCray recorded a sack and two tackles for loss, Elijah Alexander forced a fumble and recovered another, and Simon Jackson contributed with a pass breakup.