LANGSTON, Okla. — Texas Wesleyan (4-4, 4-1 SAC) defeated Langston (2-5, 1-5 SAC) 69-25 on Saturday. Texas Wesleyan scored nine touchdowns, went 8-for-8 in the red zone and finished with 360 passing yards.
Texas Wesleyan built a 10-0 first-quarter lead behind two scoring drives and repeated defensive stops. After forcing a punt on Langston's opening series,
Landrew Ward's 20-yard return set up a 35-yard drive capped by
Cole Francis' 4-yard touchdown pass to
Sean Smith at 9:43, followed by
Christian Munguia's extra point. The defense then backed Langston up for drives of minus-4 and minus-6 yards, with
Jakharyn Parks and
Izack Villasenor making tackles for loss, and Munguia added a 47-yard field goal with 3:33 left. Texas Wesleyan also moved again late in the quarter, as
Tajari Wellington hit Makhi Whitney for 7 yards and
Sean Smith for 26 more to reach the Langston 5 while holding the 10-0 lead.
Texas Wesleyan opened the second quarter with a quick scoring burst, getting a 5-yard touchdown run from
Sean Smith before recovering
Max Luna's onside kick and scoring again on
Tajari Wellington's 18-yard pass to Whitney for a 24-0 lead at 14:42. Langston answered with a safety on Texas Wesleyan's next possession and later turned Arinze Ejackam's interception return into a fumble-return touchdown, trimming the score to 24-9. After Langston added a 46-yard field goal, Texas Wesleyan responded with a drive that included Wellington completions to
Elijah Ambrosia,
Sean Smith and Whitney before
Christian Munguia made a 51-yard field goal with 4:01 left. Langston scored again in the final minute, while Texas Wesleyan's last drive reached the Langston 49 before a sack sent Texas Wesleyan into halftime ahead 27-19.
Texas Wesleyan outscored Langston 15-6 in the third quarter, answering an early Langston touchdown with two scoring drives before
Jakharyn Parks halted a late threat with a 93-yard interception return. Earlier, Texas Wesleyan's opening possession included a 22-yard Wellington completion to Whitney but ended with a fumble, and Langston scored one play later on a 36-yard touchdown pass at 12:21, with the failed conversion leaving Texas Wesleyan ahead 27-25. Texas Wesleyan responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that featured runs of 9 and 10 yards by
Adarius Williams and ended with Wellington's 7-yard touchdown run and
Christian Munguia's extra point at 5:13.
Max Luna's ensuing kickoff was fumbled on the return and recovered by Texas Wesleyan at the Langston 43, and Wellington later found Whitney for an 8-yard touchdown before completing the two-point pass to
Landrew Ward for a 42-25 lead. Langston reached the Texas Wesleyan 18 late in the quarter, but Parks intercepted Steele Wasel at the 3 and returned it to the Langston 4, leaving Texas Wesleyan ahead 42-25 entering the fourth quarter.
Texas Wesleyan scored 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter while keeping Langston off the scoreboard.
Kendrick McClodden scored from 2 yards with 14:43 left, and after Jemari Seals recorded a sack on Langston's next possession, Texas Wesleyan put together a 75-yard drive highlighted by
Tajari Wellington's 34-yard completion to Whitney and capped by McClodden's 13-yard touchdown run. Langston later reached the Texas Wesleyan 6, but
Colin Johnson sacked Brooks Kerbow on fourth down, and
Cade Gordon followed with an 84-yard touchdown pass to
Daniel Barry on the next snap at 5:00. Texas Wesleyan added another stop on downs and a 46-yard drive capped by Gordon's 1-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds remaining, finishing the game with a 69-25 win.
Wellington completed 12 of 19 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for another touchdown and completed a two-point conversion pass. Whitney caught eight passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Sean Smith added seven receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown and also scored on one of his two carries. Munguia went 2-for-2 on field goals with a long of 51 yards and made 7 of 8 PATs.
Seth Maldonado caught eight passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, added a 45-yard rushing touchdown and recovered two fumbles. Steele Wasel completed 16 of 28 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns and rushed seven times for 58 yards. Savella Greer recorded nine tackles to lead the defense. Raphael Villa made a 46-yard field goal and converted both PAT attempts.
The Rams return home next weekend as they take on Oklahoma Panhandle State at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium on October 31 at 2pm.
