LANGSTON, OK - Texas Wesleyan Football (2-6, 2-4 SAC) didn't find much room to produce Saturday afternoon in a 69-7 loss to No. 22 Langston (5-2, 4-1 SAC). It was the first time in conference TXWES fell behind by more than 17 points.
Langston running back Tim Whitfield, who led the Sooner Athletic Conference in rushing yards coming in, was held to just 72 yards on 14 carries, his fewest yards on the ground in a conference game this season. Whitfield, who also led the conference in scoring touchdowns, still managed to find the end zone three times. Quarterback Jordan Cooper was the bigger problem, accounting for 260 yards through the air and 131 on the ground, scoring five TDs.
Avery Childs played the first quarter and two more drives in the second frame before freshman quarterback
Dalton Dale got a look but the passing game couldn't get going in the traditional sense, so TXWES had to improvise. Receiver
Collier Ricks threw to
Brandon Rolfe for a 71-yard score late in the third quarter to break the shutout. It was Ricks second completion of the season after the team executed a similar play for 33 yards against Oklahoma Panhandle State.Â
The 71 yards on the receiver-to-receiver combo gave life to an offense that totaled 107 yards on the day. Langston won sloppy, committing 14 penalties for 118 yards. The Rams defensive front - number one in the country in generating sacks this season (29) - was unable to get to the shifty, dual-threat Cooper, who never waited too long in the pocket for trouble.
Despite the loss, the Rams recorded 13 tackles for loss, led by
Darnerick Scott's three tackles in the backfield.
Damien Francis picked off Cooper in the first quarter. Marquavis Hollins led the team's tackling department with a season high six solo bring-downs.
Texas Wesleyan will finish the 2019 slate with two home games, starting next week against Arizona Christian in the #BeRelevant Classic Saturday November 2 at 2 p.m. Wayland Baptist will round out the season the same time Saturday November 9 at Farrington Field.
