SALINA, KS - Texas Wesleyan Football (0-1) had a tall task Saturday night to start its season, going up against the No. 4 team in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll - Kansas Wesleyan. Despite a new head coach, the Coyotes returned almost all of their key players from last season's deep postseason run. Those returners proved to be deadly early and while the Rams found the end zone three times in the fourth quarter, Kansas Wesleyan got the fast start and took the victory, 48-24.

Quarterback Donovan Isom had success on first downs early. After a Justin Arth interception for the Rams defense down 7-0, the ensuing drive started with an Isom pass complete to LeMant Monroe for 12 yards. On the next series, Isom targeted Collier Ricks for an 11-yard gain to start the drive and later moved the chains on a 1st and 5 with a 15-yard completion to Monroe. But drives stalled out as the run game sputtered, with Isom taking three sacks in the process.

The defense found KWU quarterback Johnny Feauto equally as troublesome. Feauto passed for five first half touchdowns on 13-of-21 completions but didn't dazzle with glamorous numbers (215 pass yards) with the help of strong field position and the Rams on their heels.

Texas Wesleyan got some momentum just before halftime. A 15-yard Coyote penalty helped give the Rams good field position at their own 40, before Isom found Tyler Pullig for 30 yards to move closer to scoring position. TXWES squeezed just enough out of the drive to bring on Greg Blaser, who nailed a 37-yard field goal with plenty of room to spare. The field goal ended the shutout and gave the Rams something to work with in the second half - and work they did.

On Kansas Wesleyan's first drive of the second half, Ryan Leichus recovered a fumble - the defense's second forced turnover of the game. The offense still was hemorrhaging on the ground though, without a first down until the late stages of the third frame but the team never showed quit and in the fourth quarter, showed just how explosive this team can be.

After going for and converting on fourth down in the final minute of the third, the Rams found the end zone for the first time with an 11-yard Monroe touchdown. Monroe finished with 107 yards and seven receptions - both stats led all receivers in the game - with the TD. On the ensuing kickoff, David Allen forced a cough-up, recovered by TXWES' Braxton Brown, setting up the Rams at the KWU 24. Texas Wesleyan smelled the momentum turning.

Seven plays later, the Rams successfully converted another fourth down with a Trey Jackson five-yard run. Pullig later scored on a 27-yard play for six and then Isom found Ricks for a two-point conversion. While the Rams ran out of time, the fourth-quarter energy can transition to Houston when the Rams continue their September on the road when they visit Houston Baptist next Saturday. Houston Baptist lost narrowly to UTEP in their season opener, 36-34, and finished 1-10 in the Southland Conference (NCAA, FCS) in 2018.

Individually, Mark Seidler led the Rams defense with eight total tackles and a sack. Arth had six tackles with the interception and an additional pass breakup. Pullig ended with 94 receiving yards on four grabs with Brandon Rolfe and Cole Maxwell contributing three receptions each. Jermarcus Jones handled the bulk of the load on the ground, muscling 42 yards on 12 carries. Isom kept a clean sheet (no interceptions) on 20-of-33 passing.