WAXAHACHIE, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University Wildcats scored two touchdowns in just over four minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter to rally from an eight-point deficit to a 30-26 road victory Saturday at Nelson.
LCU revived its ground game after sputtering in week eight, churning out 244 rushing yards and three Daylon Charles touchdowns while the defense forced a pair of turnovers.
It was Nate Sullivan’s forced-and-recovered fumble, followed by the Wildcats’ hustle to recover a blocked field goal downfield, that set up the decisive touchdown midway through the final period.
Sullivan made his play at the Nelson 25, but the ‘Cats couldn’t move much closer and set up for a go-ahead 34-yard field goal. It was partially blocked, but LCU’s Aarion Randall pounced on the ball that bounded downfield, then was touched by a defender. LCU maintained possession at the Nelson 12 and three Charles runs later, the last a 2-yard score, the visitors moved on top 30-26 with 7:52 remaining.
The visitors did not allow Nelson to get a first down on its final two possessions, forcing punts each time. LCU ran out the final 2:16 to ride home happy.
The dramatic victory upped the Wildcats’ record to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Sooner Athletic Conference play while Nelson (formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University, renamed this year to honor the school’s founder) dipped to 3-5, 2-5.
Ethan Christman’s 59-yard touchdown reception from Rivers Thompson with 12:11 to go drew LCU within 26-24.
Charles matched a career high with three touchdown runs for the third time in his past five games to give him 14 TDs on the season. He had a career-best 26 carries for 78 yards.
Thompson and Allen Hamilton split the quarterback duties. Thompson posted a perfect QB rating of 158.3 by going a perfect 8-for-8 passing with a touchdown over 107 yards while Hamilton did his damage with his legs, leading all players with 87 rushing yards and an 8.7 average in addition to eight completions spanning 101 yards through the air.
Christman secured his LCU-best fourth touchdown reception of the year and led the wide receivers with 83 yards on five catches including the longest play from scrimmage, his 59-yard rainbow connection from Thompson.
Jahiem Mitchell’s biggest contribution of the day was on an extra point attempt, taking the blocked PAT off the hands of teammate Jaden Jones and going 97 yards in the other direction for a two-point score midway through the third quarter that put the visitors ahead 18-13.
For Jones, it was the first blocked kick of any kind in his two seasons at LCU. He added six tackles to his team-leading season total.
But Nelson moved on top three minutes later on a 50-yard fumble return, then padded the lead to 26-18 a minute into the fourth period to end a 70-yard drive. The Wildcats responded less than two minutes later on Christman’s catch to narrow the gap but a bid to tie the score on a two-point conversion pass failed.
Jermarian Jackson became the first defender in five weeks to register double-digit tackles as he fronted Tyson Andrus’ defense with a season-high 11 stops (seven solo), three tackles for loss and the Cats’ lone sack.
Pop McGhee saw his pass breakup streak finally come to an end at 19-in-a-row but he collected his second interception of the season and eighth of his career.
Sullivan had a fantastic contest, setting a career-high of six tackles, producing both a TFL and a pass breakup, plus his crucial forced fumble that he recovered in the fourth period.
Trae Grogan tripled his season tackle total from four to 12 in Waxahachie, bringing down eight ballcarriers.
Levi Hilborn shined, blasting five of his six kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks and four of his five punts inside the 20-yard line plus a 40-yard field goal.
A golden opportunity to post another victory looms as the Orange and Blue next travel to the capital of Arkansas for a Saturday meeting with the winless Buffaloes of Arkansas Baptist, who have been outscored 389 to 54 over seven SAC games.
LCU’s season concludes Nov. 16 in Pineville against No. 11-ranked Texas Wesleyan.