STEPHENVILLE – A last-second field goal by Southwest Baptist spoiled Tarleton's bid for a win in its home opener and dropped the Texans to 0-2 on the season at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
 
After Zed Woerner drove the Texan offense 55 yards down the field to tie the game at 28 on a Bubba Tandy 12-yard touchdown reception with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter, Southwest Baptist would kick a 23-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to lift the Bearcats to a 31-28 win.
 
The Texans put up a touchdown in every quarter and went toe-to-toe with SBU (2-0) throughout the game. Tarleton struck first with Joseph Sadler escaping several Bearcat defenders on a short pass from Woerner that resulted in a 22-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the game's opening drive. Sadler posted a team-high 106 yards rushing and 33 yards receiving on the game.
 
SBU quarterback TJ Edwards tied the game at seven on a 12-yard run with 3:48 left in the first quarter before Tarleton would regain the lead in the second quarter. Woerner teamed up with Del'Michael High on a 35-yard touchdown that High had to soar above defenders in the end zone to come down with that gave Tarleton a 14-7 advantage with 10:30 left in the half. Woener threw for 257 yards on 24-35 passing with three touchdowns and zero turnovers. Woerner's top target, once again, was Tandy, who hauled in seven catches for 89 yards.
 
The Bearcats would only need 1:35 on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 14 on a 38-yard pass from Edwards to Cassian Foreman. The two teams would head to the locker room with the score still 14-14.
 
Trailing 21-14 and facing a four-and-goal at the 1-yard line, running back Jabari Anderson took a direct snap and pounded his way into the end zone to even the score once again with 2:52 left in the third quarter.
 
But ultimately, it was SBU's big-play ability, including the 72-yard touchdown pass on the next possession, that gave the Bearcats the road win. SBU's game-winning drive took 2:01 to go 68 yards that set up the field goal.
 
Ronnell Wilson led all Tarleton defenders with 13 tackles, including one of five Texan sacks. Chase Varnado (12 tackles, 1.5 sacks), EJ Speed (11 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Cody Burtscher (11 tackles, one sack) also had double-digit tackle performances with a sack.
 
Tarleton will stay at home for a matchup with Angelo State to open up Lone Star Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.