FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Wesleyan (5-4, 5-1 SAC) defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State (4-5, 2-4 SAC) 50-28 on Saturday. The Rams scored 22 points in the first quarter and added 14 in the second quarter to build a 36-7 halftime lead.
The Rams capitalized immediately on OPSU's opening onside kick, starting at the OPSU 39 and finishing the short field with
Adarius Williams' 14-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. The defense followed with a three-and-out that included a
Billy Sanford and
Colin Johnson sack, and
Micario Brackens returned the ensuing punt 54 yards for a touchdown before
Parker Gleaton's two-point conversion rush made it 15-0. After OPSU answered with a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown, the Rams put together an eight-play, 66-yard drive highlighted by
Tajari Wellington's 24-yard run and capped by
Maurice Griffin's 9-yard touchdown to push the score to 22-7. The Rams' defense then forced OPSU backward after a drive that began at the TXWES 41, with
John Rector recording a sack and a tackle for loss before a punt pinned the offense at its 1-yard line. Wellington's 19-yard completion to Makhi Whitney moved the Rams out to the 23 before the quarter ended with the Rams ahead 22-7.
In the second quarter, the Rams turned it into a 14-0 segment, with
Tajari Wellington throwing touchdown passes to
Landrew Ward and Whitney while the defense kept OPSU off the scoreboard to take a 36-7 lead into halftime. Earlier, the Rams moved from their own 23 to the OPSU 17 behind Wellington's 24-yard run and
Maurice Griffin's 27-yard carry, but a penalty wiped out a touchdown pass and
Christian Munguia missed a 34-yard field goal. The defense answered with a stop that included
Colin Johnson's 14-yard sack, and the Rams needed three plays from the OPSU 22 before Wellington found Ward for a 14-yard touchdown at 7:13 to make it 29-7. After
Danny Washington helped force another punt with a sack on the next series, the Rams overcame penalties on a 55-yard drive and Wellington hit Whitney for a 41-yard touchdown at 2:37. A late interception gave OPSU the ball at the Rams' 25, but
Brodan Lewis' third-down sack helped force a 40-yard field-goal miss as the Rams preserved the 36-7 halftime score.
To open the third quarter, the Rams turned
Jaden Fisher's interception into points, moving 46 yards in five plays before
Maurice Griffin scored on a 25-yard run and Munguia added the extra point. Griffin's touchdown drive also included an 8-yard run and
Tajari Wellington's 12-yard rush on third-and-5, helping the Rams move ahead 43-7. The defense followed by pushing OPSU backward after penalties, with Jemari Seals stopping a 5-yard loss before the Rams forced a punt from the OPSU 7. OPSU later drove 82 yards and scored on Tyrean Henderson's 11-yard run to make it 43-14, then took over again after a Rams interception, but
Colin Johnson's 11-yard sack left the visitors facing third-and-long late in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Rams turned Jemari Seals' blocked punt into a six-play, 58-yard scoring drive, capped by
Kendrick McClodden's 1-yard touchdown and
Christian Munguia's extra point for a 50-14 lead. OPSU answered with a penalty-aided march that ended on Joshua Cason's 2-yard touchdown run, and the Rams' next possession stalled near midfield after
Charlie Adamoli's 7-yard completion to
Reggie Lavergne. After OPSU added a 20-yard touchdown pass following Jeremy Hutcheson's 60-yard run, the Rams got another special teams play from Seals, who later sacked Tyrean Henderson and blocked a punt that gave the Rams the ball at the OPSU 34 with 1:08 left. The Rams ran out the final minute from there and finished off a 50-28 win.
Griffin rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Wellington completed 10 of 19 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns and added 82 rushing yards. Seals recorded a team-high 11 tackles and blocked two punts. Whitney caught two passes for a team-high 60 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams hit the road for their final two games of the regular season, starting with a trip to Arizona as they take on Ottawa (AZ) on Saturday, November 7 at 6pm.
