The showdown became a blowout Saturday afternoon.
A matchup between nationally-ranked Louisiana Christian and visiting Texas Wesleyan, both unbeaten in the Sooner Athletic Conference and also two of the three teams which shared last year’s conference football crown, was lopsided.
LCU, ranked 16th in both major national NAIA Top 25 polls, jumped out to a 35-7 lead over Texas Wesleyan at halftime and held off a rally to defeat the Rams, 42-27, at Wildcat Field.
Louisiana Christian (6-1, 4-0 SAC) moved out front when Bryce Perkins and Omarius Davis connected on a pair of scoring strikes, from 42 and 11 yards, for a 14-0 lead.
The Rams got a 75-yard TD run immediately following the second TD, but a couple of Alexandria Senior High products responded for LCU.
Perkins found EJ Scott running away from Ram defenders for a 45-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead.
On LCU’s next possession, Datlan Cunningham ran for a 45-yard score and a 28-7 advantage.
The first-half eruption ended in style, with a 12-play drive covering 95 yards over 3:43. Eight seconds left before halftime, Jaterrius Johnson powered in from two yards out to give the Wildcats a 35-7 spread.
Texas Wesleyan stemmed the tide and posted 13 unanswered points to close within 35-20 early in the fourth period.
LCU mounted a 10-play, 88-yard drive with Perkins fooling the entire stadium and strolling into the end zone from the one to make it 42-20 midway through the fourth quarter. That erased 5:06 from the clock and didn’t leave enough time for the Rams to rally. They answered on their next series but that was it.
Perkins completed 13 of his 29 pass attempts for 289 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, and added the rushing TD.
Davis led LCU with seven receptions for 153 yards and two scores.
Cunningham carried the ball 23 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Johnson rushed it 19 times for 116 yards and a score.
The Wildcats begin three-game road trip next Saturday in Waxahachie, Texas, taking on Nelson (1-5, 1-3 SAC).