by Rick Mauch

GOODWELL, Okla. – One week after making history by winning their first season opener, the Texas Wesleyan Rams added more history by winning 49-20 at Oklahoma Panhandle State University to start a season 2-0 for the first time.
 
In fact, it was the Rams' third consecutive victory dating to last season. They improved to 2-0 in the Sooner Athletic Conference this season, rallying for a 35-28 home victory against Arizona Christian in the opener last week.
 
Texas Wesleyan controlled the contest from the outset, building a 28-0 lead on touchdowns from Clint Epperson (61-yard run), Ernest Caesar (5-yard run), Collier Ricks (3-yard run) and a 7-yard pass from Dalton Dale to Charlie Simmons.
 
The Aggies (0-3, 0-2 SAC) closed to within 28-14 a minute into the second half before the Rams' Nick David-West scored on a 2-yard run. After another OPSU score narrowed the gap to 35-20, Anthony Bobb returned a punt 89 yards for another Rams score.
 
Caesar concluded the scoring with his second touchdown, this one from 41 yards with 4:22 left in the game. He ended the contest with eight carries for 71 yards.
 
Epperson led all rushers with 18 carries for 175 yards, while David-West tallied 10 carries for 47 yards. In all, the Rams outgained the Aggies on the ground, rushing for 251 yards on 45 carries compared to 34 for 39 for OPSU.
 
Dale was 11-for-22 passing for 131 yards, the one touchdown and an interception. His passes went to five different receivers, led by PJ Williams (3 catches, 31 yards), Ricks (3-28) and Brandon Rolfe (2-32).
 
In all, Texas Wesleyan outgained OPSU by a 382-239 margin. The Rams turned the ball over four times (3 fumbles, 1 interception) with two takeaways, fumbles recovered by Kobe Adams and Caleb McKinney.
 
Dylan Pettway led the Rams defense with eight tackles, while Tyquandrik Conner registered six. Adrian Johnson had three tackles for losses totaling 29 yards and posted two of his team's five sacks.
 
The victory was the Rams' first in the series against OPSU in four games. Last season's game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the teams went overtime in 2019 before the Aggies prevailed 34-28 in Goodwell.
The Rams are back on the road on Saturday, Sept. 18 when they travel to Surprise, Ariz. to face Ottawa University. The teams did not play in 2020 because of COVID-19, and when they last met in Surprise in 2019 the Spirit won 42-38 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
 
Ottawa (2-0) is ranked No. 23 in the nation and is coming off a 42-28 victory against Southwestern Assemblies of God in Waxahachie. They opened the season with a 76-10 home win over Lyon College.