The #18 Texas Wesleyan Rams ( 3-1, 2-1 SAC) faced off Saturday night against the #8 Ottawa University of Arizona Spirit (3-0, 3-0 SAC) at Farrington Field in Fort Worth, Texas, for their fourth-ever meetup in conference play, billed as the biggest game since the return of football for the Rams.

However, the Rams fell short and received their first loss of the year to the Spirit, 22-27.   

The Rams started quickly in the first quarter with a 35-yard field goal from Kicker Armando Benitez and a 55-yard pick-6 interception by sophomore DB Jamarrion Reed, giving the Rams a 10-0 before the end of the quarter. 

Ottawa changed the momentum and scored right out the gate of the second quarter after a fumble by RB Ty Williams at the end of a 19-yard run. Midway through the first half, the score was 10-17, with OUAZ in the lead. 

Benitez connected on two more field goals from 32 and 39 yards giving the Rams a lead of 19-17, about 5 minutes into the second half. The Spirit scored one more TD before the end of the third quarter, on a 75-yard scoring run giving OUAZ a 19-24 lead.

The Rams and Spirit kicked field goals early in the fourth quarter, with Benitez good on a 27-yard FG, his fifth game. The scoring stopped, but not the drama on the field.  

After a defensive stop by the Rams on 4th down and 2:11 left on the game clock, TXWES got the ball back on OUAZ 23 yard line and down by 5 points.

QB Dalton Dale pushed the ball toward the end zone and gave the Rams 1st and goal after a 12-yard completion to TE Cam Chapman. However, OUAZ's defense proved too strong for the Rams, and the clock and Rams downs ran out on an incomplete pass to WR A.J. Bobb as time expired, giving the Rams their first loss, 22-25.

QB Dale finished with 130 passing yards connecting on 17-35, with most of those attempts going to wide receivers, five to Bobb and P.J. Williams, and four to TE Chapman for a combined 125 receiving yards. 

RB Ernest Ceasar finished with 156 rushing yards on 20 attempts, 36 yards being his longest run from the line of scrimmage.

DL's Kobe Adams and Sir Hill and LB Joe Thomas all recorded a sack for the TXWES defense. Adams led the way in tackles for loss and finished with three tackles taking away 17 yards from OUAZ. 

LB Dylan Pettway led the defense in solo tackles, finishing with five tackles. 

The Rams offense finished with 410 yards, including 43 rushes for 280 total rushing yards and 130 total passing yards with 17-35, while the defense allowed 406 yards. 

The Rams, now 2-1 in the SAC, will play Wayland Baptist University (1-2) in Plainview, Texas, on Saturday, October 1st.