Box Score WAXAHACHIE - Texas Wesleyan (1-6, 1-4 SAC) is so close to writing the next chapter of football's return, the page to the next chapter is standing straight up begging for a breeze. The Rams got close to another shocker on the road in 2018, falling 53-46 to Southwest Assemblies of God (5-3, 4-2 SAC) on a final-drive interception.

The offensive numbers put up in this game by the Rams and Lions were straight out of a video game. SAGU threw for 632 yards and rushed for another 89, racking up 721 total yards of offense. Texas Wesleyan was much more balanced - almost perfectly balanced. The Rams finally got the ground game going, rushing for an astounding 266 yards, passing for another 286. The 266 on the ground was more rushing yards than the Rams had in the last three games combined.

That surge came from Texas Tech transfer Desmond Nisby. Nisby poured in 169 yards on just 19 carries for four touchdowns. Nisby has scored in four-straight games, but only contributed 101 yards on 36 carries in his first six outings. His explosiveness scored from five and nine yards out in the second quarter and then again from four and 16 yards out in the fourth frame, the latter giving the Rams a 46-45 lead with 5:43 to go in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately for Texas Wesleyan, the defense - which had stifled the Lions offense to just a field goal in the second half, broke one more time on SAGU's final drive. The Lions drove 10 plays, 65 yards in 3:15 on a dart from the record-setting quarterback C.J. Collins, who had 490 of those yards and six passing touchdowns.

With a chance to tie or win the game with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, Donavan Isom's pass was intercepted on an out route by Coby Roach - the first interception of the game. Isom completed just 12-of-32 passes but receiver's yards-after-catch numbers helped Isom's yards per completion to 23.8 per catch.

Le'Mant Monroe gave the Rams a 14-7 lead three minutes into the game on a quick slant route, taking the reception up the middle, blowing by the Lions defense for a 73-yard score.

The two teams combined for 11 touchdowns in the first half, including four in the first five minutes. The Rams scored on the second play of the game - a 52-yard run by Da'vonte Mitchell-Dixon who finished with 60 yards on seven carries. Monroe nearly cracked 200 yards with six grabs - 194 yards on the day.

While the defense continued to give up yards and points, they continued to force turnovers and make offenses uncomfortable. Michael Miller recovered a fumble and returned it 35 yards; Jordan Purnell, Sir Marc Sanders and Jaylen King forced fumbles, while Dylan Pettway and Byron Tate recorded sacks.

Jordan Purnell and Miller led the defensive wrap-ups with seven tackles each.

Texas Wesleyan left some points on the board in a tight game. The Rams had a fourth and 1 at the SAGU 11 late in the third quarter, but Erik Richards was tackled for a loss of two. Texas Wesleyan also had two, two-point conversions that failed - one that would have closed the gap to three (45-42) and one that would have given the Rams a three point lead (48-45).

RAMBLINGS

• Texas Wesleyan has lost two games with a chance to tie or win on their final drive in 2018. The Rams only had one opportunity last season, if you count the three seconds they had to say a prayer in a 21-14 loss at Lyon College.
• There were 15 scoring drives in the game, 12 of which were over 60 yards. The longest: an 11-play, 97-yard drive by SAGU that bled 4:54 off the first quarter clock. Texas Wesleyan closed the gap early in the fourth with a 14-play, 68-yard drive, the most plays in a scoring drive in 2018.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Rams head to Plainview to face Wayland Baptist who plays the winless Texas College Steers later tonight.