MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to overcome a two-point deficit, as the Wolves defeated the Clan of Simon Fraser University, 27-16, in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Saturday at McArthur Field.
Western Oregon (4-4, 2-1 GNAC) trailed Simon Fraser (2-6, 2-2 GNAC) by two points, 16-14, early in the fourth quarter before
Ryan Bergman connected with
Paul Revis on back-to-back touchdowns of 29 and 54 yards within a five-minute span to complete the come-from-behind victory.
Bergman concluded the afternoon completing 18-of-42 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns, while
Tyrell Williams and Revis combined for 286 yards on 13 catches with three TDs.
On a rain-filled and windy day, WOU started the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown from Bergman to Williams to go up 7-0 late in the first quarter. On the drive, Bergman was 2-for-3 for 50 yards that included the 35-yard strike to Williams for the game's opening touchdown.
Simon Fraser opened the second quarter with an eight-play, 71-yard drive that resulted in a 26-yard field goal by Tiernan Docherty that brought the Clan within four points (7-3).
After back-to-back drives that resulted in each team punting, Simon Fraser intercepted Bergman at the 49 yard line and then saw Ryan Stanford connect with Lemar Durant on a 51-yard touchdown that handed the Clan a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Neither team would score for the remainder of the first half, as Docherty missed back-to-back field goals of 48 and 42 yards, respectively, within the final six minutes of the second quarter.
The second half would begin with Simon Fraser going three-and-out before Western Oregon put together a 55-yard scoring drive that concluded on a one-yard touchdown pass from Bergman to
James DePew that put the host Wolves ahead by four points (14-10) early in the third quarter.
On its very next drive, Simon Fraser would march 52 yards down the field before getting a 39-yard field goal from Docherty that pulled the Clan within a single point (14-13).
Simon Fraser would grab its final lead of the afternoon on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Docherty connected on his third field goal of the game via a 25-yard kick through the uprights resulting in a 16-14 lead for the visiting Clan.
After back-to-back three-and-out series for Western Oregon, the Wolves' offense began clicking as WOU marched 94 yards in seven play concluding with a 29-yard touchdown from Bergman to Revis that gave Western Oregon the lead for good, 21-16, midway through the final period.
WOU's final scoring drive covered 65 yards on six plays in two minutes and 28 seconds, as Bergman once again found Revis wide open for a 54-yard touchdown that capped the game's scoring (27-16).
Williams concluded the day with 157 yards on nine catches with one touchdown, while Revis tallied 129 yards on four catches with a pair of TDs. For Williams, it is his fourth game this season with over 100 yards receiving to go along with five 100-plus yard performances by Revis.
For Simon Fraser, Stanford finished the day connecting on 23-of-52 passes for 299 yards and one touchdown. Steve Spagnuolo gained 132 yards on 24 carries for the Clan, while Durant tallied 184 yards on 10 catches with one touchdown.
As a team, Western Oregon had 407 yards of total offense versus Simon Fraser's 462 yards. The difference in the game was third-down conversions, as WOU held Simon Fraser to 3-of-17 that also included an 0-for-1 on fourth-down conversions.
Western Oregon returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 1, against No. 25-ranked Azusa Pacific University beginning at 6:00 PM at Citrus Stadium in Glendora, California.
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