FORT WORTH - A promising first half turned into a disappointing final 30 minutes for Texas Wesleyan Football (1-5, 1-3 SAC) in a 49-25 loss at Farrington Field against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (3-4, 3-1 SAC).

Down just 21-14 at the half, OPSU played all the right notes in the third quarter, driving for three consecutive touchdown drives after a turnover on downs started the half. In the third frame, the Aggies racked up 248 yards on 26 plays. All of OPSU's drives were less than five minutes, averaging 7.7 yards per play.

Strip away the third quarter, and the Rams only lost by a couple of scores. The passing game was as strong as its ever been, with quarterback Donovan Isom connecting 24 of his 40 passes for 321 yards, two scores and a pick - his second-straight 300-yard passing day. Isom found eight different pass-catchers, his favorite of the day Brndon Rolfe. Rolfe caught the first score of the day just 46 seconds into the game - a 56-yard bomb down the sideline in one-on-one coverage. Rolfe finished with 130 yards on five grabs.

After falling behind 14-7, running back Desmond Nisby scampered in from two yards away after Isom connected with Rolfe for 40 yards. Isom found Le'Mant Monroe from 31 yards out for the Rams fourth-quarter strike. 

A few critical moments proved to be the difference in a ball game that for much of the cloudy day, was much closer than the final score led to believe.

• Tied 14-14, the Aggies were just one yard away from taking the lead on 1st and Goal. The Rams managed a goal-line stand on first, second and third down, forcing OPSU back to the five, but a holding penalty in the end zone gave the Aggies a fresh set of downs and a score on the next play.
• Down 35-14 after the offense failed to pick up a first down on its first two third-quarter drives, Texas Wesleyan moved the chains three different times and marched into the red zone. But the Rams came up short on 3rd and 10 from the OPSU 15 and were forced to settle for a field goal.
• On the next series, a facemask penalty on a 26-yard pass followed by an unsportsmanlike penalty turned a 3rd and 4 from the OPSU 44 into a 1st and Goal for the Aggies at the Rams' 10. Oklahoma Panhandle State scored on the next play.

OPSU converted 11-of-16 third downs and racked up 609 yards offense, 313 of which came on the ground, including 141 yards and three touchdowns from Carlos Ransburgh. While the Rams only had 54 yards on the ground, some flashes of greatness were shown in the fourth quarter. Nisby finished with 42 yards on 11 carries while Da'Vonte Mitchell-Dixon came in and had two carries for 18 yards.

Michael Miller led the defense with 13 tackles and had an end zone interception. Chijoke Iwuagu compiled 10 tackles and a sack while Chance Carroll added nine wrap-ups.

WHAT'S NEXT
Texas Wesleyan heads to Waxahachie Saturday night to face Southwest Assemblies of God. SAGU is coming off of a 37-34 upset at the hands of Lyon College, who kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to secure their second conference win. SAGU dropped to 3-2 against the SAC. Lyon has won both of it's conference games by one score - Texas Wesleyan's next opponent at Farrington Field on November 3.