PINEVILLE — Texas Wesleyan University (3-3, 3-1 SAC) lost to Louisiana Christian University (6-1, 4-0 SAC) 42-27 on Saturday. The Rams passed for 358 yards, while the Wildcats finished with 536 total yards and converted 13 of 19 third downs.
The Rams' best scoring chance came after
Landrew Ward's 26-yard kickoff return, when
Ian Jernagin's 19-yard run and a
Charlie Adamoli completion to
Courtlyon Jackson helped move the Rams to the Wildcats 9 before a 25-yard field goal missed wide right. Earlier, the Rams' defense forced a punt on the Wildcats' opening possession, with
Izack Villasenor and
Micario Brackens breaking up third-down-area passes, but the offense started at its own 1 and punted after Adamoli's 9-yard completion to TJ Curtis. The Wildcats broke through at 8:00 on Bryce Perkins' 42-yard touchdown pass to Omarius Davis and the extra point made it 7-0. The Rams answered defensively on the next Wildcats drive, pushing the Wildcats back after they reached the TXWES29 as
Ryan Seymour and
Billy Sanford recorded tackles for loss and Jamayle Sampson broke up a third-down pass before a punt. Adamoli later hit Curtis for 42 yards from the TXWES5, but the drive stalled, and the Rams finished the first quarter behind 7-0.
The Rams faced a four-touchdown second quarter from the Wildcats, but answered the first score immediately when
Ian Jernagin broke a 75-yard touchdown run at 13:31 and
Christian Munguia's kick made it 14-7. The Wildcats responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass and later a 46-yard scoring run, while the Rams' next two possessions included a sack-forced punt and a drive that reached the Wildcats 37 behind
Charlie Adamoli's 34-yard completion to
Sean Smith. The Rams' defense got a stop midway through the quarter when Brackens broke up a pass and Villasenor followed with a third-down sack, and
Max Luna later helped flip the field with a punt that left the Wildcats starting at their 5. Seymour added another sack in the final minute, but the Wildcats finished the second quarter with a late touchdown and the Rams went into halftime down 35-7.
The Rams produced the only scoring of the third quarter, opening the quarter with a 57-yard drive capped by
Charlie Adamoli's 6-yard touchdown pass to Makhi Whitney and later adding
Christian Munguia's 33-yard field goal.
Landrew Ward's 37-yard kickoff return set up the first possession, and Adamoli moved the Rams with completions of 23 yards to Whitney and 21 yards to
Courtlyon Jackson before the touchdown at 11:58. The Wildcats answered with a long drive to the Rams 6, but Brackens intercepted Bryce Perkins in the end zone for a touchback, and the offense responded with a 64-yard march that included three
Sean Smith catches and ended with Munguia's field goal at 2:44. The Rams' defense forced punts on the Wildcats' final two drives of the quarter, including a late series backed up by penalties and an
Arin Warner quarterback hurry, and the Rams entered the fourth quarter behind 35-17.
The Rams scored twice in the fourth quarter, highlighted by
Charlie Adamoli's 59-yard touchdown pass to
Sean Smith at 4:46, but the late push ended in a 42-27 loss to the Wildcats. Earlier, the Rams extended their opening possession with
Maurice Griffin's 6-yard run, a pass-interference penalty and an offside call before
Christian Munguia made a 26-yard field goal at 12:21. The Wildcats answered with a 10-play, 88-yard touchdown drive, but the Rams responded after a sack by converting fourth-and-5 on Adamoli's 11-yard completion to Smith and following with the 59-yard score. After the Wildcats recovered the ensuing onside kick, the Rams forced a turnover on downs on fourth-and-1, then drove to the Wildcats 11 before an incompletion ended their final possession with 1:11 left.
Adamoli completed 23 of 50 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Sean Smith caught eight passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. Jernagin rushed seven times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Arinze Ejackam led the Rams with nine tackles and added a forced fumble.
Bryce Perkins completed 13 of 29 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown. Omarius Davis caught seven passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Datlan Cunningham rushed 23 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Jaterrius Johnson added 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
The Rams return to Crowlesy Multi-Purpose Stadium on Saturday against NCAA DIII University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
