WAXAHACHIE, Texas – The #15/#14 Louisiana Christian University football team scored 14 unanswered second-half points to turn a one-point lead into a 31-23 victory over the Nelson Lions on Saturday afternoon at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium to remain the sole undefeated team remaining in SAC play this season.
After Nelson (1-6, 1-4 SAC) took an early lead,
Preston Baker tied the game 3-3 for #15/#14 Louisiana Christian (7-1, 5-0 SAC) with a 30-yard field goal late in the first quarter, capping a 12-play, 86-yard drive that consumed 7:27.
Bryce Perkins then connected with
Omarius Davis for a 19-yard touchdown with 11:26 left in the second quarter. After Nelson tied the score at 10, Perkins scored on a 10-yard run with 1:49 remaining, sending LCU into halftime ahead 17-10.
The Wildcats' advantage narrowed to 17-16 with 11:30 left in the third quarter after a Nelson touchdown and missed extra point. LCU answered with a touchdown in each of the final two quarters, reaching a 31-16 lead with 5:01 remaining.
Travis Adams' 97-yard kickoff-return touchdown right after the Nelson score and
Matthew Cates Jr's 6-yard rushing touchdown accounted for those two scores. Nelson cut the margin to eight with 2:52 left, but the Wildcats held on.
Jaterrius Johnson led LCU's ground game with 81 yards on 16 carries, while @
Datlan Cunningham added 57 yards on 13 attempts. The Wildcats finished with 144 rushing yards and 373 total yards despite converting just 3-of-15 third downs. Perkins completed 11-of-25 passes for 163 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and Cates completed 4-of-7 for 66 yards.
Davis paced the receivers with six catches for 86 yards.
EJ Scott added four receptions for 71 yards, including a 46-yard gain, and
Xavion Butler caught three passes for 60 yards. On special teams, Adams totaled 120 yards on two kickoff returns. Baker made all four extra-point attempts and placed three of seven punts inside the 20.
LCU's defense limited Nelson to 17 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
Jordan Oglesby led the Wildcats with six tackles, including two for loss, while
Cameron Leonard intercepted a pass and
Jermarian Jackson recorded an 8-yard sack. The Wildcats allowed conversions on only 5-of-17 third downs and 1-of-3 fourth downs.
The Wildcats continue their three-game road trip next Saturday, returning to Texas to take on Texas College. Kickoff of Saturday's contest against the Steers (0-6, 0-5 SAC) is set for 5 p.m. at Mewbourne Field.
