By RICHARD THIBERVILLE JR., LCU Sports Information Director
SURPRISE, Ariz. – For the second time in three years, the Louisiana Christian University football team is Sooner Athletic Conference co-champions after dominating 11th-ranked Ottawa 48–13 Saturday night at Spirit Field.
The win by Louisiana Christian moved both the Wildcats (8-3, 7-1 SAC) up and the Spirit (8-1, 7-1 SAC) down into a three-way tie with Texas Wesleyan (7-4, 7-1 SAC) for the conference championship. By virtue of tiebreakers, the Rams receive the SAC’s automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series.
Neither LCU or Ottawa was included in the 20-team NAIA playoff bracket announced Sunday night. TWU beat LCU 62-27 on Oct. 11 in Fort Worth.
Wildcats freshman safety Kylan Polk, who was coming off a four-interception and one touchdown day a week ago, made three more picks Saturday night – including another one returned for a touchdown.
His first set up the game’s first score, giving LCU possession at the Spirit 38. Seven plays later, a 16-yard Bryce Perkins to E.J. Scott pass helped the visitors up 7-0.
Ottawa booted a 30-yard field goal to make it 7-3 in the second period. LCU answered that score with a touchdown on their ensuing drive as, once again, Perkins found Scott, this time from 33 yards out to give the Wildcats a 14-3 lead.
The Spirit got momentum right before halftime with a 30-yard rushing touchdown which cut the LCU lead down to 14-10 with less than three minutes left.
Ottawa closer to open the third quarter, using a 31-yard field goal to get within 14-13.
But the Wildcats exploded. LCU again answered a field goal with a touchdown, going 57 yards in six plays with Perkins and Omarius Davis connecting from 23 yards out for the touchdown to make it 21-13 LCU with 7:18 left in the third quarter.
LCU expanded the lead late in the quarter when Datlan Cunningham punched in from one yard to cap a five-play, 69-yard drive to go up 28-13.
Polk, who added a second interception in the first half, made it back-to-back weeks with a pick-six, as he took in another wayward pass and raced 58 yards to the end zone to give LCU a 35-13 lead with 14 seconds left in the period.
The LCU defense added more points early in the fourth when Jermarian Jackson picked up a fumble and raced 30 yards to the house for a 41-13 lead.
Cunningham capped the scoring with just less than four minutes left in the contest as he again plunged into the end zone from a yard out.
Perkins finished the game 11-of-23 for 180 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Scott was his top target as he ended the game with seven receptions for 135 yards and two scores. Davis had three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown as well.
The Wildcats got 83 yards from Jaterrius Johnson on 18 carries. Cunningham was handed the football 19 times and gained 54 yards with two touchdowns.
LCU’s defense was key in the win, holding the SAC’s highest scoring offense to just 13 points while getting five turnovers, two of which were returned for scores.