FORT WORTH, TX - In the third season back of competition, in the third meeting against Southwest Assemblies of God (0-4, 0-2 SAC) in the third overtime, Texas Wesleyan Football (1-4, 1-2 SAC) pieced together a miraculous victory Saturday night at Farrington Field in what eventually turned into another wild shootout. The Rams took home a 52-44 victory on a Jermarcus Jones 17-yard touchdown run and a Mark Seidler and Darnerick Scott combo sack to close out SAGU's last chance.

The game, in all its twist and turns of glory, nervous moments and remarkable plays, was just the second game this season in the NAIA to go at least three overtimes and was the first overtime game for the Rams since returning to the field. The Lions played in their first OT since losing to Lyon College 48-42 in overtime on October 1, 2016, and are still winless in extra periods since a win over Oklahoma Panhandle State 28-27 on October 27, 2012.

"I was proud of our team's effort," said Head Coach Joe Prud'homme. "We've been in three dog fights and have never quit. We grew up tonight and finished it."
 

THE GROUND GAME

With quarterback Donavan Isom out, Texas Wesleyan looked to a rushing attack that had accounted for 549 yards in the first four games, or 137.25 yards per game. On Saturday, the Rams rushed for a whopping 304 yards on 48 carries, led by Jones' 133 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries. Quarterback Keaton Huebner, who split signal-calling duties with Avery Childs, rushed for 80 yards on 19 carries and a score while Trey Jackson got 13 touches for 67 yards and a touchdown. The yardage was only surpassed by 357 on the ground in 2018 against Ottawa-Arizona on November 10, 2018 - the last Rams game played at Farrington Field, 329 days between.
 

COMEBACK THWARTED

TXWES took a 20-3 lead into halftime and watched it evaporate in the second half. SAGU scored 24 unanswered points to take a 27-20 advantage, which all was kick-started by a high snap for the Rams offense deep in their own territory that resulted in a defensive touchdown for the Lions, their first touchdown of the game and their first points since the first drive of the night. The Rams defense forced the Lions into five consecutive punts, a fumble (recovered by Shawn Benson) and a turnover on downs between the field goal and defensive score. 

With 7:00 to play, SAGU jumped offsides and Childs found a wide open Le'Mant Monroe streaking down the seam without a defender 20 yards around him in all directions on the first play of the drive. He trotted to the end zone untouched, accounting for 64 percent of the passing offense in the game on just one play, the longest pass of the season. From there, SAGU led on only one other occasion: up 44-41 after the men in purple and white got the ball to start the second overtime period.
 

SEILDER SHINES

The Rams Mark Seilder recorded 15 total tackles, four sacks and a pass breakup against the Lions. He earned three of his sacks in the first half, including two sacks in three plays in the final two minutes of the first quarter to completely derail a drive. TXWES now ranks 11th in the country with 17 sacks as a team, led by Seilder's five, good enough for 12th in the NAIA.
 

WHAT'S NEXT

Texas Wesleyan heads back on the road to Oklahoma Panhandle State, the fifth different state the Rams have played a road game in (Kansas, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday October 12. OPSU (1-4, 1-2 SAC) has the same record as the Rams after a 47-7 loss to No. 20 Ottawa-Arizona at home Saturday, the same Ottawa-Arizona team TXWES took to the brink, falling in the final controversial seconds in Surprise, AZ on September 21.