The Texas Wesleyan Rams (5-1, 4-1 SAC) faced off against Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions (SAGU) (2-3, 1-3 SAC) Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, for their sixth-ever in conference play.
TXWES started on defense in the first quarter, quickly stopping the SAGU's offense on the first drive of the game with the last play resulting in a 24-yard loss on a blocked punt going out of the back of the endzone, giving the Rams the ball back and a lead of 2-0.
The SAGU offsides and personal foul gave the Rams a chance to start their next drive on the Lions 28- yard line instead of the 50-yard line. The Rams' offensive efforts only placed them on SAGU's 30-yard line. Being forced to try a field goal on fourth down, K Francisco Castillo nails the 47-yard field goal for the Rams, increasing the lead to 5-0.
The TXWES defense came back onto the field and stopped SAGU on three rushings and a pass attempt, forcing the Lions to punt on fourth down.
The TXWES offense started with a false start, losing 5 yards on the play, but they could make up for the loss of yards with QB Dalton Dale throwing a 40-yard pass to WR Alize Thomas. Dale then moved the offense down the field with an 11-yard pass to WR Cameron "Cam" Chapman and a 16-yard pass to Alize.
RB Ernest Ceasar finished off the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Although there was a holding call on the field goal attempt, Francisco could still connect on the field goal attempt, increasing the lead to 12-0.
Before the end of the half, both teams made various efforts to score, with only Castillo connecting a field from the 20-yard line, increasing the score to 15-0.
TXWES started on offense in the third quarter, with Ernest scoring a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the opening drive, increasing the score to 22-0.
On the next drive, DB Deylon Rodgers intercepted a pass attempt by SAGU, allowing the offense to come back to the field. Dale capitalized on the SAGUB mistake in an eight-play, eighty-yard drive highlighted by a 32-yard pass to Alize, followed by Dale rushing in for 26 yards increasing the score to 29-0.
DB Chance Carroll grabbed an interception for the Rams on the ensuing drive by SAGU, resulting in four and out for the Rams.
The Ram's final score came from a touchdown pass for 4 yards from Dale to Ceasar, increasing the lead to the final score of 35-0 after a missed extra point attempt.
QB Dale finished the game by connecting 13-22 passing attempts for 239 yards with one passing touchdown and 7 rushes for 47 yards and one rushing touchdown. WR Phenol "PJ" Williams finished with 96 yards on three receptions. Alize finished with 88 yards and three receptions.
Ernest ran for 115 yards on 12 attempts, including two rushing touchdowns and one passing reception resulting in a touchdown. Carroll and DB Deylon Rodgers each had one interception, and DB Jamarrion "Jay" Reed finished the game with two interceptions.
Reed, DB Sincere Blackmon, and LB Dylan Pettway led the way with a combined 20 tackles for the defense.
The Rams' offense finished with 465 yards, including 39 rushes for 204 yards and 261 passing yards on 14-28, while the defense only allowed 167 yards.
The Rams, now 4-1 in the SAC, will play the Langston University Lions (5-0, 4-0 SAC) in Fort Worth, Texas, at Farrington Field on Saturday, Oct. 15th, at 2 PM.
