The trip to Oklahoma proved to be a tough one as the Mavericks fall to the Dutch in a battle of ups and downs. The offense started the game on the 20 after the opening kickoff sailed into the endzone for a touchback. After three first downs and moving the ball out to the Holland Hall 49 the Mavericks stalled facing a 4th and 10. Jack Waller dropped back to punt in which the Dutch fielded and raced 77 yards for the return to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. On the ensueing kickoff Cameron Neal proceeded to put the Mavericks in good field position with a 60 yard return to the Dutch 40. The offense waisted no time in answering with Josh Winslow, Caldwell Flores and Stephen Firestone churning up yards on the ground. Winslow then finished the drive with an 8 yard carry across the goal line to put the score to 7-7. The defense then stepped up after Tweardy kicked the ball in the endzone for a touchback. A big sack by Ben Griffin and the Dutch had to bring the punt team out on 4th and 16. St. John's picking up where they left off in the last series, after a 12 yard punt return by Griffin, marched down the field again with the aid of a pass interference call on a Winslow to Tim Otey pass. Winslow then pitched the ball to Flores who took it in from the 11. Tweardy with the extra point and the Mavs were in the lead 14-7 going into the 2nd quarter. The defense again led by Jack Waller held the Dutch to a 4th and 6 forcing them to punt. SJS taking over on their own 41 moved down to the Holland Hall 22 on the running of Firestone and Flores but could not convert a 4th and 1 giving the ball back to the Dutch. The Dutch then put together a 12 play 78 yard drive only to be stopped by a fumble on fourth and goal at the one in which Waller recovered in the endzone to preserve a halftime lead of 14-7.
The second half started out with the Maverick defense holding the Dutch to a three and out but on the first play the offense was hit with a penalty and on the next play the Dutch came up with an interception giving them the ball on the Maverick 41. On the fourth play from scrimmage the Dutch were able to connect on a 26 yard pass play for a score and tie it up at 14 all. The next series for the Mavs was hampered by another penalty forcing a punt in which the Dutch returned back to the SJS 8 yard line. With a third and goal from the 2 the Dutch connected on a 2 yard pass and another score to pull ahead on the scoreboard 14-21. On the next Maverick series what do you think happened? Yes, another penalty and the Mavs were forced to punt. Having the momentum the Dutch took advantage with a 10 play 68 yard drive that ended with an 18 yard scoring pass to end the nightmare third quarter with 21 unanswered points. The fourth quarter looked like it was going to be the same as the offense struggled trying to play catch up giving the ball back to HH on the SJS 38. The Dutch scored again on a 2 yard run after 5 plays for a 14-35 score. When it rains it pours as the Mavericks next punt was blocked giving HH another short field to go 26 yards in 2 plays to increase their lead to 14-42 with 7:02 left. The Mavericks pulled it together and started their drive from the 20 and went 80 yards in 11 plays as Winslow took it in from 20 yard out to finally get some momentum going. Behind 21-42 with 5:00 left the onside kick by Tweardy was successful and the Mavs had the ball on thier own 43. The Mavericks were able to take it down in 5 plays with Winslow having a big run for 27 yards and Flores able to get to the goal line on a 17 yard run to cut the lead to 28-42 with a minute and a half left. The next onside kick was not sucessful and the Dutch were able to run out the clock to finish the game.