Late Field Goal Lifts Sul Ross Past TLU, 37-34

ALPINE, Texas -- After trailing 31-10 at halftime, the Bulldogs rallied to score 27 second half points but fell to the Sul Ross State Lobos on the final play when the Lobos kicker Carlos Arreola booted a 38-yard field goal to sink the Bulldogs in Alpine.

This is the second consecutive heartbreaking loss for the Bulldogs in Alpine as the Bulldogs fell on the last play in 2021's 12-10 loss at Jackson Field.

Down by as many as 24 points, the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-0 ASC) battled back to tie the game 34-all behind a 24-point fourth quarter led by quarterback Caden Boasanko (San Antonio/East Central).

The backfield duo of Jacob Forton (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) and DaKory Willis (Flatonia/Flatonia) combined for 164 yards on the ground with both finding the end zone. Willis would also add a team-high 52 yards receiving. Forton scored the Bulldogs first touchdown of the night on a three-yard rush while Willis' came on a 16-yard dash in the fourth quarter. To cap a 24-point fourth quarter, Bosanko connected with Joshua Muncrief (Edna/Edna) on a 21-yard connection and Weston Guzman (McAllen/McAllen) for the two-point conversion with 49 seconds remaining.

Seth Cosme (Angleton/Angleton) led TLU with 149 yards through the air on 12-of-27 passing and added 27 yards on the ground while throwing four interceptions on the night. Caden Bosanko would enter in the fourth and finish 1-of-3 for 21 yards passing while rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown. Tristan Smith (New Braunfels/Canyon) led the defense with seven total tackles (all solo). Christian Monroe (College Station/College Station) had four tackles including a team-high two tackles for loss. Jermario Thomas (Jasper/Jasper) - who entered Saturday second in NCAA Division-III in interceptions - recorded his fourth interception of the season in addition to two tackles. Joaquin Rodriguez (San Antonio/Smithson Valley) was perfect - making a 33-yard field goal and his lone extra point attempt.

The hosts jumped out to a 21-0 lead, aided by a first quarter pick six, before Forton found the end zone midway through the second quarter. Sul Ross stretched their lead to as much as 34-10 in the third quarter before the Bulldog defense would hold the Lobos scoreless until their final game-winning drive.

Texas Lutheran returns to Seguin on Saturday, October 7th, when the Bulldogs welcome No. 22 Mary Hardin-Baylor to Bulldog Stadium. 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.