FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University Football Team (0-4, 0-1 CSFL) suffered a 42-7 loss to Southwestern Assemblies of God University (3-1, 2-0 CSFL) at Farrington Field on Saturday.
The final score did not reflect the play of the Rams in this game. Four turnovers put the Lions in position to score 21 of their 42 points.
"The turnovers were obviously a killer," Head Coach Joe Prud'homme said after the game. "We competed well today, but we just gave up too many big plays. I felt like we were in the game and not outmatched, but we kind of beat ourselves with some turnovers that came at bad times. It's a process and we have to be patient, but progress was made today."
The Rams started well, putting together their best first quarter to date. On the team's second possession of the game, the Rams moved the ball 43 yards in 11 plays, consuming 4:31 of clock, but the drive ended abruptly with the first of three SAGU interceptions on the day at the Lion's 19 yard line.
Cornerback Michael Miller got the ball right back when he picked off a pass from SAGU's CJ Collins, the reigning CSFL Offensive Player of the Week. However, after a Texas Wesleyan punt, the Lions drove 69 yards capped with a 13 yard quarterback keeper from Collins for the first score of the day.
Miller broke up another Collins pass late in the first quarter with a big hit, forcing SAGU to punt, but an interception by Colby Rouch gave SAGU the ball at the Texas Wesleyan 44. Warren Cotlong broke up consecutive passes in the end zone, but Collins eventually found Jeremy Carr with a 28 yard touchdown pass.
An interception by Herb Woods-Sparks gave the Rams the ball with 1:15 remaining in the half. The Rams were aggressive in trying to cut into the 14-0 deficit before the break, but Maliek Golden returned an interception 57 yards for a score as time wound down.
After the pick-6, SAGU started the second half with the ball and put a 1-yard touchdown run from JP Lowery on the board to push the score to 28-0.
The Lions never looked back, putting 21 points on the board in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Rams defense backed SAGU up to their own four yard line. A 23 yard punt return from Ja'Rod Bedford set the Rams up on the SAGU 17, and Colby Reed hit Marquette Kennedy in the end zone from 11 yards out.
SAGU entered the game with the CSFL's top offense at 483 yards and 44 points per game. Collins earned CSFL Player of the Week honors after lighting up Texas College with a school record five touchdowns and a personal best 443 yards through the air. Collins went for 212 yards and three scores on Saturday, while the SAGU offense churned out 350 total yards.
"I thought Michael Miller played really well for us at free safety," Prud'homme said. "The offensive line played well and special teams were good overall."
Colby Reed and Kane Hardin split time behind center for the Rams. Reed was 8-of-17 for 77 yards and a score. The Ram running game put up 83 yards, led by Jermarcus Jones' 40 yards on 15 carries. Blake Sonnier averaged 5.3 yards per carry to finish with 32 yards on six carries.
Reed also had an 81 yard punt on his ledger that flipped the field for the Rams in the first quarter. Bedford averaged 33 yards on two punt returns and Anthony Caston averaged 28 yards on four kick returns.
The Rams return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Langston, OK, to take on No. 15 Langston University. That game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start. Texas Wesleyan will celebrate Homecoming on October 14, when they host Bacone College at Farrington Field.
