Box Score
ALPINE, Texas - What could have been a long bus ride home got a whole lot better for the Louisiana College Wildcats when a late defensive stop allowed LC to survive Sul Ross State, 26-25, Saturday in Alpine, Texas.

The Wildcats, now 5-4 on the season, 3-1 in conference play, trailed by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, but got a game-saving play with 20 seconds left when senior linebacker Beau Brewer sacked the Lobos' Derrick Bernard at the LC 14-yard line. Bernard fumbled on the play, and Brewer also recovered the football to ensure the Wildcats' victory.

"We're very fortunate to win, some would say lucky," LC coach Dennis Dunn said. "I would rather be lucky than good. We're happy to come away with a W for sure."

That win looked very much in doubt for the Wildcats midway through the fourth quarter. Sul Ross, which trailed 14-13 after three quarters, took a 19-14 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when James Davis hit Steven Savedra with a 3-yard touchdown pass to cap a 5-play, 80-yard drive. The 2-point conversion pass by Davis failed, however.

The Wildcats appeared to be driving for their own score on the next series, but LC's Easton Melancon was intercepted in the flat by the Lobos' Earl Hines at the Sul Ross 20-yard line. Sul Ross, with the help of two LC penalties, converted that turnover into points when Bernard hit Cordrick Mobley with a 33-yard touchdown pass with9:12 left in the game to take a 25-14 lead. This time, the Wildcats blocked the extra point - their second blocked PAT of the game.

Needing some kind of spark, the Wildcats got one from their senior kick returner Ira Jewitt. Jewitt, who has proven to be one of the most valuable players in the American Southwest Conference this season, took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to pull the Cats back to within five, 25-20, as LC's 2-point attempt failed.

For Jewitt, it was the eight touchdown return (punt, kickoff, interception) of his career, tying him with current co-defensive coordinator Justin Charles for the LC career mark in that category. It was also his fourth such return of 2014 and puts Jewitt in a tie with Charles and former Mary Hardin-Baylor linebacker Javicz Jones for the ASC single-season record in that category.

"Very fitting that Ira and Beau made game-changing plays that impacted the outcome," Dunn said. "They have been doing that their entire careers. They absolutely refuse to quit."

Special teams would again play a big factor later in the quarter. Following an LC possession ending in Tim Willett's 46-yard punt to the 11-yard line, the Wildcats' defense forced a three-and-out for Sul Ross. But while standing at his own 5, Lobos punter Stephen Slater attempted to field a low snap and dropped his knee to the ground while trying to gain possession. He was ruled down at the 5-yard line with 3:06 left to play.

The Wildcats needed just one play to take the lead for good when receiver Shed Davis took the end-around for a 5-yard touchdown run. The Cats tried for two again, but Melancon's pass was incomplete, so LC's lead stood at 26-25 with 3:01 to play.  

Sul Ross, which dropped to 1-8, 0-4 in the ASC, seemed poised to pull off the upset on its final drive as the Lobos marched from their own 13-yard line to the LC 14 before Brewer's game-deciding sack. As he has done many times this season, Brewers led with Wildcats with 11 tackles. Hall added 10.

The game was a struggle all afternoon for the Wildcats, who were shut out most of the first half. Meanwhile, the Lobos scored on their second possession of the game. Davis found Bernard for an 18-yard touchdown pass to put Sul Ross up 7-0 at the 9:11 mark. LC struggled to get its running game going, while Melancon was sacked twice in the quarter.

In the second quarter, LC finally tied the game after some help from its defense. LC's Richard Jefferson stripped Bernard of the football at the LC 31-yard line and teammate Trent Hall returned it to the Sul Ross 13. Melancon found Davis for the first of his two touchdowns on the day, a 3-yard strike to tie the game at 7-7 heading into halftime.

 The Wildcats took their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter. The key play on their scoring drive that started at their own 12 was a 77-yard pass from Melancon to Cole Crook that took the ball to the Sul Ross 6-yard line. Two plays later, Melancon found Sylve on a quick route out of the backfield for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put LC ahead for the first time, 14-7, with 6:39 to play in the third 

The Wildcats won the game despite being out-gained by Sul Ross, 359-253 in total yards. Most of those yards for the Lobos came through the air as Davis finished 19 of 35 for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Bernard was 2 for 2 for 78 yards and another score. Meanwhile, Melancon finished 17 of 31 for 253 yards and two touchdowns on an extremely windy day in West Texas. He was also sacked six times.

On the ground, the Wildcats got 95 yards on 22 carries from Sylve, the freshman who had gained more than 100 yards in his past two games. Of concern for the Wildcats, the fact that Sylve had to leave the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent hand injury.

For the Wildcats, the win improved their all-time series record against Sul Ross to 14-1. LC will close its season Saturday, Nov. 15 when Hardin-Simmons visits Wildcat Stadium for a 1 p.m. matchup that should decide second place in the ASC. The Cowboys also won Saturday, 35-19 over East Texas Baptist.