By RICHARD THIBERVILLE JR., Louisiana Christian Athletics
For the second-straight week, it came down to the wire for the Louisiana Christian University football team, and this time, Jaterrius Johnson broke free for the game-winning score with 1:33 to go and Kylon Polk’s interception in the final minute sealed a 43-37 Sooner Athletic Conference win over the Wayland Baptist Pioneers Saturday night at Wildcat Field.
The Wildcats (2-1, 2-0 SAC) seemed poised to open up the game early as both Bryce Perkins, from two yards out, and Datlan Cunningham, from 34 yards away, both rushed for touchdowns in the first quarter, getting LCU out to a 14-0 lead. In the second period, Wayland Baptist (0-2, 0-2 SAC) cut the Wildcat lead down to 14-10.
Johnson scored his first touchdown from nine yards out to push the LCU advantage back out to 21-10 with just over a minute to go before halftime. Wayland opened the second half by cutting the margin to 21-7.
Cunningham plunged in from a yard out with less than four minutes left in the third quarter to make it 27-17. Levi Hilborn connected on a 22-yard field goal to give LCU a 30-17 lead just less than two minutes into the final period.
But suddenly, the Pioneers found big plays to bust in front. First came a 79-yard scoring catch and run. After getting a stop, a five-play, 63-yard scoring drive ended with a 27-yard scoring trot to forge a 30-30 tie after a botched snap on the point after. WBU took its first lead on a fumble returned 83 yards for a touchdown, going up 37-30 with 5:55 left in regulation.
On the first play following the turnover, Perkins found Omarius Davis for a 39-yard gain. Two plays later, Perkins and Davis connected again, this time in the back of the end zone on a 24-yard scoring strike, bringing the score even again at 37.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Wildcats got the ball back at their own 26 and with 3:05 left to find a winning score. Perkins found
Xavion Butler for 37 yards to get into Pioneer territory as the two-minute timeout was reached. Johnson busted through the right side and galloped to the pylon, getting inside the right corner of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown with just 1:33 remaining. The point after was blocked, however, keeping the score at 43-37.
The Wildcat win was secured shortly afterward when Polk tracked down a pass that was lofted to the right sideline for the interception allowing the Wildcats to run out the remaining 43 seconds.
Perkins finished the day 20-for-32 through the air, passing for 354 yards with a touchdown while adding a rushing score as well.
Cunningham rushed for 157 yards on 30 carries and scored twice. Johnson went for 93 yards on 13 carries and also went into the end zone two times.
E.J. Scott had nine catches on the day, totaling 147 yards. Davis made six receptions and went for 118 yards and a score.
The Wildcats racked up 585 total yards of offense while the Pioneers had 410 total yards. The LCU defense forced three turnovers while Wayland Baptist came up with four.
LCU will step away from Sooner Athletic Conference play to travel to old American Southwest Conference foe Hardin-Simmons next week. Kickoff off next Saturday’s contest against the Cowboys (2-0, 0-0 ASC) is set for 1 p.m. at Shelton Stadium in Abilene, Texas.