By Rick Mauch
 
The Texas Wesleyan Rams football team continued to show Saturday that whether it's in the friendly confines of Farrington Field or in hostile road territory they know how to win.

In this case it was in the role of visitor as they defeated Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, 38-33. The Rams (4-1 overall, 4-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference) built a 24-point advantage and held off a late rally by Sagu (3-3, 1-3 SAC).

The Rams are now 2-1 on the road and 2-0 at home this season. They entered this season with a single road victory from 2017-2020.

Clint Epperson paced the Rams offense with three touchdowns. He caught a 7-yard pass from quarterback Dalton Dale that game Texas Wesleyan a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter, then had TD runs of 47 yards early in the third quarter and 2 yards early in the fourth as the Rams went up 38-14.

Epperson finished with 84 yards rushing on 15 carries. Dale completed 11 passes for 154 yards scattered among four receivers, including five for 65 yards to P.J. Williams and three for 66 yards to Charlie Simmons.

The Lions got three late touchdowns. Keaton Dudik scored on a 68-yard run and Jordan Barlow threw scores of 12 and 71 yards, the last with just under three minutes remaining. SAGU did not get the ball back the remainder of the contest.

The Rams jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a 22-yard Daniel Trejo field goal and a defensive fumble recovery by Davonn Granger, both in the opening quarter. Williams' 2-yard TD run built the lead to 24-7 with 6:26 left in the first half.

The Rams won despite being out gained in total yards 419 (195 rushing, 224 passing) to 327 (173 rushing, 154 passing). Texas Wesleyan had a 26-21 advantage in first downs, 65-58 in total plays and had the ball for over six minutes longer than the Lions.

Defensively, the Rams forced and recovered two fumbles. Along with Granger's scoring recovery, Dylan Pettway snagged a miscue.

Chance Carroll led the Texas Wesleyan defense with eight tackles, while Adrian Johnson had seven, including two for a loss. The Rams also posted three sacks, one each by Carroll, Johnson and Denaz Ross, which set up Granger's TD fumble recovery.

Next up for the Rams is a trip to Langston, Okla. to face Langston University at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Lions (5-0, 4-0 in SAC) were idle on Oct. 9.
The Rams are 0-3 against Langston. The teams did not play in 2020.