FORT WORTH, TX - Texas Wesleyan Football (2-7, 2-5 SAC) had four critical moments go awry in the second half of Saturday's #berelevant Classic battle with Arizona Christian (4-4, 4-2 SAC), in what ultimately was a 45-35 loss in more gut-wrenching fashion.

Texas Wesleyan out-gained Arizona Christian 438-421, converted 8-of-14 on third downs and 2-for-3 on fourth downs earned three more sacks and possessed a 21-13 lead early in the third quarter in defeat. The one big stat of the day was turnovers: the Rams had six of them and the Firestorm turned those six takeaways into 31 of their 45 points.

The ACU win overshadows a banner day from wide receiver Collier Ricks who threw for two touchdown passes and caught another. Ricks is now 4-for-4 with 172 yards though the air with three touchdowns on the season, with a quarterback rating that is a whopping 708.7. Ricks had 87 yards on five grabs down the field, giving him a total of 155 offensive yards and three touchdowns in the game.

The Firestorm win also took away from Mark Seidler's immense effort on the defensive line, earning 11 total tackles - 10 solo - to go with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He had six more solo tackles than any other Ram.

Texas Wesleyan has had a roller coaster season that has included a triple overtime win, a double overtime loss and a an infamous road game decided at the one-yard line that prompted a conference's apology letter. Saturday's second half felt like cruel and unusual punishment for a unit that has clearly grown leaps and bounds from 2018, let alone from its return to action two years ago.

• Late in the third quarter after surrendering 11 straight points, down 24-21, TXWES got a major spark on special teams from Diamond Williams. Williams returned the kickoff 96 yards down to the ACU one-yard line. The return was followed by a loss of seven yards (off-center snap disrupted read-option timing), a false start put the ball back to the ACU 13, a holding penalty wiped away an incredible touchdown catch in the end zone, giving the Rams a 2nd and goal at the ACU 23, Avery Childs was sacked back to the ACU 30 and then an incompletion resulted in a 47-yard field goal that was well short. The Firestorm marched 70 yards in five plays to extend the lead 31-21 on the next series.
• Down 10, TXWES was in need of a momentum swing. The Rams stopped quarterback Tyler Duncan for a one yard loss on 3rd and 16 - TXWES had 16 tackles for loss in the game, dropping Arizona Christian for a loss on 20 percent of the squads offensive plays. But an unsportsmanlike penalty after the stop gave the Firestorm a first down and prevented the Rams from collecting possession with a short field. Eight plays, 68 yards later, ACU found the end zone again.
• With four minutes to go, Texas Wesleyan down 38-28, the Rams collect a Cody Pettit sack. Pettit knocked the ball out and Dylan Pettway picked up the loose ball and ran it into the end zone for a score, but the officials ruled that Duncan was down before the ball came out. TXWES eventually scored after the punt to cut the deficit to three, 38-35, but it took two more precious minutes off the clock.
• Down 38-35, the Rams attempted an onside kick. Up-man Alias Sturges went un-blocked and returned the attempted onside kick 45 yards for a score the other way.

Quarterback Avery Childs kept busy, completing 26-of-45 passes for 286 yards and two scores. Jermarcus Jones was the bell-cow for the rushing attack on this day, carrying the rock 23 times for 73 yards and a score. Brandon Rolfe caught two touchdown passes for 120 yards on eight receptions while Le'Mant Monroe added 99 yards on eight grabs. Tyler Pullig chipped in five receptions for 40 yards and a score.

Pettit also had the Rams only interception, an athletic play at the end of the first half as he followed Duncan's eyes on a rollout. Chance Carroll broke up two passes downfield as the Firestorm managed next to nothing in the passing game downfield - their longest completion went for 27 yards.

Texas Wesleyan has one more shot to improve their win total from 2018 when Wayland Baptist comes to Farrington Field Saturday November 9 at 2 p.m.