DUBUQUE - The Buena Vista football team overcame a 24-13 halftime deficit to force overtime, but the Beavers had a PAT blocked and saw Loras plunge into the endzone from a yard out on 4th-and-goal, and the PAT gave the Duhawks a 40-39 victory.

Sophomore quarterback Dylan Laughlin hooked up with junior Eric Pacheco four a pair of touchdowns to help spark the offense.  The two put BVU in front 7-3 in the first quarter on a 52-yard strike and then connected on an 8-yard score with 34 seconds left in the opening half to snap a string of 21 unanswered Duhawk points and get within 24-13.

The defense and special teams stepped up in the second half and sparked the comeback.  Jalen Moore got things started when he recovered a blocked punt in the endzone early in the third quarter while Michael Herwig intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a score as BVU took its first lead since the opening frame at 33-27.

The Duhawks were held to only a field goal in the third quarter and then responded after the Beavers regained the lead to get a 3-yard touchdown run, but the extra-point attempt was blocked.

BVU looked to win the game in regulation, getting just inside of Duhawk terriroty with just over a minute remaining but were forced to punt as the Duhawks then ran out the clock.

Loras won the toss to begin the extra period and elected to play defense first.  On the first play from scrimmage, Reyes Lara III found Colby Laughlin for a gain of 21 down to the four yard-line.  The Beavers were later forced with fourth-and-goal at the one, and after calling its lone timeout of overtime, Bryland Menicucci pounded it across the goal line for the go-ahead score.

The Duhawks (3-4, 2-3 A-R-C) also had a big completion on their possession, getting down inside the five, and then on fourth-and-goal, got a scramble up the middle that just crossed the goal line, and the PAT was through for the game-winner.

Laughlin finished 20-of-28 passing for 187 yards and two scores while Lara III was 12-of-18 for 150 and one score.  Pacheco hauled in nine catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns, moving him into sixth place on the program's single-season list with 59 catches.  He also surpasses his career high of 58 set last season.  His 134 yards give him 897 on the year as he looks to become just the sixth player to reach 1,000 yards in a season.

Tanner Frost led the way with 13 tackles, defensively, and also recovered one fumble.  Jalen Moore and Gary Weaver each intercepted a pass as BVU finished with three overall.

"Loras made one more play than we did today," said BVU head coach Grant Mollring.  "I'm extremely proud of our effort - as I have been all season. Coming back from down 24-7 and taking a 4th quarter lead took a big effort. Offensively we struggled to protect the passer and could not run the ball. Our QB's did a nice job after settling down after early turnovers and really made good decisions with the ball in the second half.  Michael Herwig made a fantastic play in the interception return, and we also came up big by blocking the punt for a score in the second half. Losing guys like Reed Kruse, Treveon Duncan, and Diego Huerta really challenged our depth today."

Buena Vista (2-6, 0-6 A-R-C) will return to J. Leslie Rollins Stadium next Saturday to wrap up its home schedule as it hosts Luther College (0-7, 0-5 A-R-C) in a 1 p.m. kick-off.