Title: Van Wagner FG Gives Sully Triple OT Win

Date: Sunday, October 14, 2007

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Michael Van Wagner caught the overtime bug, again, and saved the third extra slot for his game-winning 41-yard field goal as Sul Ross took a 45-42 triple OT win over visiting Texas Lutheran Saturday night at Jackson Field.

Van Wagner’s kick was a career best and marked the second consecutive game-winning field goal for the Bandera sophomore after his 28-yard field goal lifted Sully to a 34-31 double overtime win two weeks ago against Howard Payne.

One of the largest moments of the game and, perhaps the season, saw 59-year old Mike Flynt make his playing debut on Sul Ross special teams after a 37-year wait.  

Sully drew big on the Texas Lutheran defensive unit munching 613 yards of total offense. T.J. Barber collected a season best 162 yards off of 25 carries and a touchdown. Fellow senior Austin Davidson completed 20 of 35 passes for 346 yards and 4 scoring strikes. Davidson set a school record of 54 career touchdown passes after Saturday’s victory which surpassed Larry Hill’s 52 set back in the early 1980’s. Freshman Jarrett Dickerson was Davidson’s go-to guy as he finished with 10 receptions for 205 yards and 4 scores.

El Paso junior Fernie Acosta led the Sul Ross defense with 15 tackles as the Lobos limited TLU to 255 yards.

Sul Ross opened scoring as Davidson hit Dickerson on a 36-yard scoring pass capping 7 plays and 80 yards of real estate. Van Wagner’s extra point was good giving the Lobos a 7-0 lead with 11:03 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs responded less than 5 minutes later as Dwight Bonner blocked a Carlo Dominguez punt and returned it 20 yards into the Sul Ross end zone. All-American kicker Holt Storrie bingoed on the extra attempt to knot the contest at 7 with 6:29 left in the opening period.

The Lobos broke the tie at the 3:12 mark as Cameron Holliness reached pay dirt on a 25-yard sprint after a 7-play, 75-yard march. Van Wagner’s kick set the Lobos up 14-7.

Texas Lutheran evened matters as quarterback Frank Vera connected with Anthony Smith for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 left in the quarter. Storrie’s kick tied the game at 14.

The Bulldogs took the go ahead as Ralph Valdez scampered 3 yards on a 10-play, 68-yard drive. Storrie booted the extra try giving TLU a 21-14 advantage with 8:47 left in the second period.

Davidson went with Dickerson again, this time on a 38-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 left before the break. Van Wagner’s kick was good which tied the game at 21 heading to intermission.

Dickerson reached glory in the middle of the third quarter off a 31-yard pass from Davidson ending a 4-play, 66-yard scoring drive. The extra boot by Van Wagner missed but Sully sported a 27-21 lead with 7:58 left in the third.

TLU put up the first two scores of the fourth quarter as Valdez trotted 6 yards into the end zone. Robert Bonner then scored on a Davidson interception, returning it 28 yards. Both of Storrie’s kicks were good with TLU sporting a healthy 35-27 lead with 3:47 left in regulation.

The Lobo offense came together after 3 series as Davidson found Dickerson for the fourth time of the night, this time on a 32-yard scoring pass which capped a 4-play, 65-yard journey. Sully went to Barber for the 2-point conversion which tied the game at 35 with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs took the knee to send the game to overtime. TLU took the first possession and scored as Vera found Jerry Clouse on a 23-yard touchdown pass off a fake field goal. Storrie’s kick was good giving TLU a 42-35 lead.

Barber reached the end zone on a 4-yard trot on the Lobos’ first OT series. Van Wagner’s kick tied the game at 42 and sent the contest to a second overtime.

The Lobos had the leather to start the second OT. The series was brief, lasting 2 plays which ended on a fumble at the TLU 9 yard line which was recovered by the Bulldogs. Texas Lutheran put up 3 plays which set up a 39-yard field goal by Storrie which sailed wide to the left and sent the game to triple OT.

It would be the Bulldogs with the first offensive series which was terminated after Lobo defensive back Dominque Jones picked off a Villa pass in the Sul Ross end zone. The turnover gave Sully new life at the TLU 25 yard line. A holding penalty and delay of game call pushed the Lobo offense back just enough to make room for Van Wagner’s 41-yard field goal which gave Sully the 45-42 win.

The Lobos improve to 4-2 for 2007 and 2-2 in ASC play while the Bulldogs drop to 1-6 and 1-4. Sully will face McMurry University next weekend in a 7:00 p.m. conference kickoff from Abilene.