TYLER, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University football team (0-6, 0-3 CSFL) battled Texas College to the final horn before falling 21-11 at Trinity Mother Frances Stadium Saturday night.
"We just couldn't make the big plays we needed in the first half," Head Coach
Joe Prud'homme said after the game. "We were able to pin them deep and had great field position, but we gave up three big plays that all hurt us. We played better in spots today, but little plays we missed early on and opportunities we didn't take advantage of really hurt us later."
The Steers were able to make big plays in the first half, putting all 21 of their points on the board before the intermission. TC got on the board with a 65-yard pass from Sean Stell in the first quarter. An interception by TC's Patrick Petty gave the ball back to the Steers, and their drive ended at the start of the second quarter with a TD pass from Stell to Daymond Woods.
On the ensuing possession, the Rams got a 46-yard burst from running back
Brandon Reeves. That play eventually setup a 27-yard field goal from
Bryce Nye.
With 2:51 to play in the half, Stell tossed his third TD of the day, this time finding Reginald Hardison from 22 yards out to push the score to 21-3 at the half.
In the second half, the Rams' defense stiffened, eliminating those big plays and allowing only 46 yards of total offense while holding the Steers off the scoreboard and producing the season's first safety.
That safety came after
Colby Reed pinned the Steers at the three yard line with a 57- yard punt.
Vincent Stephenson then stuffed running back Carlos Mosby in the end zone to bring the score to 21-5.
In the fourth quarter,
Kane Hardin capped a 63-yard drive with a 7-yard quarterback run to get the Rams within 10.
Joe Prud'homme elected to go for two and try to make it a one-score game, but the TC defense was up to the challenge.
The Rams forced a TC punt with 1:34 to play, looking for a score and an on-side kick, but couldn't find the magic they needed to close the gap.
For the game, the Steers put up 287 yards of offense while the Rams managed 233 yards. The Rams outgained the Steers on the ground 134-107 and produced 19 first downs to the Steer's 12.
Jermarcus Jones led the ground attack with 78 yards on 26 carries.
Brandon Reeves added 52 yards on seven carries including that 46-yarder.
Kane Hardin went 7-or-18 passing for 81 yards.
Matthew Shelby and
Ja'Rod Bedford were both credited with sacks for the Rams' defense.
Colby Reed put three of his six punts inside the 20-yard line, and
Donovan Davidson racked up 80 yards on three kick returns.
Stell was 5-for-12 for TC, throwing for 180 yards and three TD's. Ronald Harris posted 103 yards on two receptions including the 65-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
The Rams will return to the friendly confines of Farrington Field on Saturday for Homecoming as they host Bacone College in CSFL action. That game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kick off.
