The Bulldogs were barkin’ and ballin’ this football season! For the first time in 10 years, SWOSU finished the year with a winning record, ending this season at a 6-5 mark. The Dawgs had some great accomplishments this season:
Team accomplishments:
As previously mentioned, the Dawgs finished above .500 this season. This is just another big step in the turnaround head coach Andrew Rice has led. In 2023, prior to Coach Rice’s arrival, SWOSU went 0-11. In Rice’s first year, 2024, the Bulldogs went 3-8. Already a steady improvement throughout his short time in Weatherford.
This season, SWOSU not only took down all five other Oklahoma Great American Conference (GAC) teams, but they won these games by an average margin of 25 points. They tied with East Central for the best record of these Oklahoma schools, but win the tiebreaker due to their head-to-head victory over East Central. As the SWOSU Football Instagram page puts it, they were the “best in Oklahoma.”
Off the field, the Dawgs maintained a 3.0+ team GPA.
Offensive accomplishments:
On the offensive side of the ball, SWOSU averaged 29.8 points per game, the 4th most in the GAC and the most for Oklahoma GAC teams. They averaged 213.4 rushing yards a game, 3rd most in the GAC.
Individually, RB Red Martel totaled 883 rushing yards this season, putting him 4th amongst all GAC players. QB MJ Rivers led the GAC in passing touchdowns (20), passer efficiency (157.3), and completion percentage (65.8). He also accounted for 1,794 passing yards, the 4th most in the GAC. WR Baylor Nash hauled in seven touchdowns, 2nd most in the GAC, and 548 receiving yards, 6th most in the GAC.
The offensive line allowed a total of 12 sacks all season. This is tied for the 3rd fewest in the conference, and the least of all Oklahoma Division 2 programs.
Defensive accomplishments:
Defensively, SWOSU’s team passing defense defense was not only among the best in the GAC, but among the best across all Division 2 schools. They allowed just 157.5 passing yards per game. The 2nd least in the conference, and the 5th least across the country.
They hauled in 12 interceptions throughout the season, which tied them for 2nd amongst the teams in the conference.
Special teams accomplishments:
In the third phase of the game, special teams, the Dawgs were elite. Kicker Ethan McBee hit 81.8% of his field goals, the highest field goal percentage in the GAC. SWOSU was a perfect 41 for 41 on PATs, tied for the best percentage in the conference.
Punter Miller Fealy’s 80-yard punt was the longest in the conference, and 4th longest in the country.
All-Conference Teams:
The Dawgs had the following players make the GAC all-conference teams:
All GAC First team:
- Baylor Nash, WR
- Cameron Guyton, DT
All GAC Second team:
- Red Martel, RB
- Bodie Boydstun, FB
- John-Paul Louie, OL
- Zack Roberts, S
- Ethan McBee, K
All GAC Third team:
- MJ Rivers, QB
- Braydn Henry, C
- Dakari Fantroy, OL
- Shane Armstrong, ILB
- Miller Fealy, P