Bulldogs Drop Heartbreaker to McMurry in Final Seconds

SEGUIN, Texas -- The first half was a slugfest. The second half was a roller coaster that ended in heartbreak for Bulldog fans. McMurry (5-4, 3-3 ASC) stunned the Bulldogs, scoring a nine-yard touchdown with five seconds remaining on a tipped pass to steal a 36-33 win Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. The win marks McMurry's first win over the Bulldogs since 2011 at Matador Stadium.

The Bulldogs drop to 1-8, 0-5 in the American Southwest Conference (ASC). The Bulldogs will look to regroup at home in their regular season finale against Austin College on Nov. 11. The game is scheduled for a 1 PM kickoff and will be broadcast on TLU's YouTube Channel, TLU+, along with KWED 1580 AM. All streaming and stats links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.

The Bulldogs outgained the War Hawks by 72 total yards - 493 to 421 - but four TLU turnovers, including a pick-six, helped keep McMurry close throughout. The Bulldogs led by as much as 26-9 late in the third quarter but were outscored 27-7 down the stretch.

The game was back-and-forth up to halftime as TLU took a 13-9 lead into halftime following back-to-back drives that ended with field goals from Joaquin Rodriguez (San Antonio/Smithson Valley) to close the half.

A receiving touchdown from quarterback Caden Bosanko and a touchdown pass from Bosanko to Jacob Wallace to start the half extended the TLU lead to 26-9 with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter. Three of the final five TLU possessions ended in turnovers for TLU as the War Hawks mounted a comeback in the fourth outscoring the Bulldogs 20-7 in the final period. 

Trailing 36-33, Texas Lutheran would get a final opportunity with five seconds remaining but the play would end with an interception as time expired.

Sophomore quarterback Caden Bosanko (San Antonio/East Central) had a career day, finishing 20-of-31 passing for a career-high 333 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and two interceptions. Bosanko would add 44 yards rushing on eight attempts while also adding a five-yard receiving touchdown on a pass from senior quarterback turned safety Blake Lowry (Marquez/Leon) courtesy of a "Philly Special" call from TLU. Caleb Camarillo (Gonzales/Southside) had three receptions for 75 yards and a score while fellow wideout Jacob Wallace (Marion/Marion) had six catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Jacob Forton (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) led the Bulldogs with 134 yards of total offense with 67 yards rushing and receiving. Entering what could be his final game as a Bulldog, Forton needs 19 yards to enter the top five in program history in career all-purpose yards. Forton also moved into sixth all-time on the TLU all-time rushing list as his career tally now stands at 1,629 yards. DaKory Willis (Flatonia/Flatonia), who finished with 45 yards rushing on eight carries, moved into seventh all-time on the rushing list as his career total now sits 1,616 yards.

Defensively, Tristan Smith (New Braunfels/Canyon) led the Bulldogs with seven tackles. Diego Avila (Allen/Allen) had five tackles and Marec Square (Houston/Lamar) had four tackles and his first career interception. Joaquin Rodriguez, who made the D3football.com Team of the Week following a four field goal week last week, kicked three field goals - missing one - and making field goals from 34 and 38 yards.

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