By RICHARD THIBERVILLE JR., LCU Sports Information Director
GOODWELL, Okla. – The Louisiana Christian University football team scored 28 points in the second quarter to take control and 21 points in the fourth to pull away from Oklahoma Panhandle State for a 56-27 win over the Aggies Saturday night at Carl Wooten Field.
It was a slow start for the Wildcats (3-2, 3-0 SAC) in the contest as LCU was held scoreless through the first 15 minutes. At the end of the first quarter, OPSU (1-3, 0-2 SAC) held a 3-0 lead.
But when the second 15 minutes started, the points started rolling in for the Wildcats. Less than two minutes into the quarter Jaterrius Johnson capped an 11-play, 98-yard march with a one-yard plunge, giving Louisiana Christian the lead, 7-3, which they would not relinquish.
Less than five minutes later, Omarius Davis reeled in a four-yard Bryce Perkins scoring pass, extending the Wildcat lead out to 14-3.
The Aggies used a big play to pull closer, hitting on a 76-yard pass and catch to get back within four at 14-10.
But the Wildcats were undeterred, needing less than 90 seconds to answer that score with a 27-yard scoring scamper by Tyrese Mosby.
LCU seemed to take firm command of the game just three minutes later as Perkins found Jaden Wells for a 25-yard touchdown pass, putting the Wildcats up 28-10 with just three minutes remaining before halftime.
But the end of the first half tightened things back up considerably as OPSU hit another big pass, this one from 55 yards out, to cut the deficit down to 28-17. The Wildcats were then stripped of the ball on the ensuing kickoff, immediately giving the Aggies another possession. Panhandle State took advantage of the extra opportunity, hitting a 41-yard field goal as time expired to cut the LCU lead down to 28-20 at the break.
Both teams added touchdowns in the third quarter. The Wildcats got it started with a 20-yard rush by Darrell Waldon to end a 10-play, 76-yard drive which took more than 5:30 to complete. The Aggies answered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive of their own which ate up more than six minute off of the clock and capped it with a one-yard shove into the end zone to make it 35-27 Wildcats.
The fourth quarter belonged to LCU. Johnson got his second touchdown rush, this one from seven yards out. Wells added his second scoring reception of the evening to end a 13-play, 83-yard drive which took off a valuable 4:44 off of the clock. Datlan Cunningham added a four-yard plunge with just over 3:30 left for the game’s final score.
Perkins had one of his best games as a Wildcat, completing 21 of his 30 pass attempts, accumulating 299 yards and three scores.
His top target on the evening was Davis, who had five catches for 73 yards and a score. Wells had just two catches on the evening, but the 38 yards he got on them was the maximum he could get as he scored on both.
Cunningham had a big night on the ground, rushing 18 times for 151 yards and a touchdown. Johnson added 51 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Mosby toted the ball eight time and accrued 48 yards with a score. Waldon’s only rush on the evening was the 20-yard touchdown jaunt. As a team, the Wildcats accrued 264 yards rushing on their way to 563 total yards of offense against the Aggies
The Wildcats step out of Sooner Athletic Conference play for the final time this season next week, coming home to host Fort Lauderdale. Kickoff of Saturday’s contest against the Eagles (0-4) is noon at Wildcat Field.