FORT WORTH - Cole Francis shattered a school record with 501 passing yards and three touchdowns, leading Texas Wesleyan University ( 4-2, 4-0t SAC) To a 61-28 rout of Louisiana Christian University (4-3, 3-1 SAC) in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday.

Francis, completing 20 of 32 passes, broke the previous school record of 497 yards set by Carson Rodgers against Wayland Baptist University on Oct. 26, 2024. His long scoring strikes of 75 and 61 yards fueled the Rams to a dominant second half. Mark Benjamin caught a 61-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 38 yards, while Sean Smith hauled in four receptions for 96 yards, including the 75-yarder. Texas Wesleyan racked up 612 total yards.

Louisiana Christian started strong but couldn't sustain momentum. Bryce Perkins threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, both to Edward Scott Jr., who had 122 receiving yards. Datlan Cunningham rushed for 97 yards and two scores, including a 64-yard run in the third.

The Wildcats opened scoring after a 59-yard kickoff by Texas Wesleyan's Max Luna. Starting at their 27, Perkins led a 14-play, 73-yard drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brenen Hawkins at 10:19 in the first for a 7-0 lead.

Texas Wesleyan answered swiftly. From their 36, Francis connected with Benjamin on a 61-yard screen for a touchdown, tying it at 7-7 with 9:27 left.

Louisiana Christian reclaimed the lead 20 seconds later on Perkins' 72-yard bomb to Scott, making it 14-7.

The Rams tied it at 14-14 with Cameron Smith's 2-yard run at 3:26, following an 83-yard drive aided by Paul Summers' 25-yard rush.

Early in the second, Cunningham's 3-yard touchdown run gave the Wildcats a 21-14 edge. Francis responded with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Smith, knotting it at 21-21.

Texas Wesleyan then surged ahead. Francis' 2-yard sneak at 9:33 put the Rams up 28-21. Freddy Joya added a 21-yard field goal for a 31-21 lead, and with 30 seconds left in the half, Francis hit TJ Curtis for a 5-yard score, extending the margin to 38-21 at halftime.

In the third, Joya's 22- and 27-yard field goals bookended Cunningham's 64-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 44-28.

The fourth quarter saw Jaiden Jones return an interception 27 yards for a touchdown at 13:31, making it 51-28. Joya hit a 34-yard field goal at 6:42, and Ashton Mitchell's 1-yard run at 1:23 finalized the 61-28 score.

The Rams converted 8 of 15 third downs and forced three turnovers, including two interceptions of Perkins, while holding the Wildcats to 375 total yards. Joya was perfect, going 7-for-7 on extra points and 4-for-4 on field goals, contributing 19 points.

Texas Wesleyan remains unbeaten in conference play, while Louisiana Christian suffers its first league loss.

The Rams will return to action next Saturday against D III University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. in Belton, TX.