PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana College football scored on its second offensive play and used a late defensive stand to collect its first win as members of the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference by holding off the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies 41-35 Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Field.
 
Things couldn't have started much better for the Wildcats in the contest as the defense forced the Aggies to punt following their first possession. With LC starting its first drive of the game from its own 14, Markaylin Milburn gained two yards on first down, and then James Powell, Jr. found Micah Dunn streaking behind the OPSU defense and hit him in stride for an 84-yard touchdown pass to get the scoring started in a big way.
 
The Aggies had an answer, however, going on a ten-play drive that culminated in a 24-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-7.
 
After a LC punt, the Wildcat defense forced a quick three-and-out. The situation got even better for the Wildcats as the snap sailed over the punter's head, who had to just fall on the ball, setting up the LC offense deep in OPSU territory. Five plays after the failed punt, Devin Briscoe was handed the ball and busted through the line for a five-yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats a 14-7 lead they would not relinquish again.
 
Now in the second quarter following several exchanges of punts, LC started at drive at its own 35 and immediately moved into Aggie territory thanks to a 20-yard rush by Powell. From there, the Wildcats slowly moved their way down into range until LC came across a fourth and five situation at the OPSU 26. The right play was dialed up during the timeout immediately preceding the play as James Powell, Jr. found Micah Dunn again, this time in the front right corner of the end zone with a fade pass for a touchdown and a 21-7 LC lead.
 
The game's first turnover looked to turn the favor of the contest as the Aggies took in an interception to start at drive on LC's side of the field and cashed in with a three-play touchdown drive, capped off by a one-yard rush into the end zone. But Me'kyle Franklin didn't let the Aggies celebrate too long as he took in the ensuing kickoff and got to the right sideline and raced to the end zone for an 85-yard kickoff return with just 1:38 left before halftime. LC's defense kept the Aggies off the board and the Wildcats took a 28-14 lead to the break.
 
OPSU dud close the gap in the third quarter as a strip-sack gave the Aggies the ball on LC's side of the field, and one, 44-yard play later the score had been narrowed to 28-21 as the game headed to the fourth quarter.
 
A LC drive that started in the third quarter would get inside the OPSU ten yard line early in the fourth quarter, but would stall out and Hunter Martensson converted from 26 yards out to up the Wildcats lead to 31-21.
 
But it was another quick hitter that got OPSU right back into the game as OPSU's running back got to the corner and was off to the races on the first play of the ensuing possession for a 75-yard touchdown rush to make it 31-28 LC.
 
The Wildcats had a big answer ready for their next drive. On a third and six play, James Powell, Jr. looked up and saw Canaan Leon behind the defense and delivered him a perfect pass and Leon finished the job for a 53-yard touchdown pass that got the lead back up to ten points, 38-28 with ten minutes left in the game.
 
Good special teams play had OPSU backed up at the four yard line to start their next drive, but OPSU moved to midfield, and then one more big play got the Aggies back to within one score as OPSU hit on its own 55-yard touchdown pass for a 38-35 LC lead with 7:30 left.
 
LC needed a scoring drive and to eat the clock up to try and secure the win, and they did both by taking up five minutes to move down the field all the way to the one yard line before settling for a 24-yard Hunter Martensson field goal to push the lead out to six points, 41-35.
 
But after OPSU was set up at their own 35 to start the next drive, LC's defense needed the stop the close things out. The Aggies moved down inside the LC 25 yard line with just about a minute left, but the defense held, helped by a pass tipped at the line by Micah Latin on third and ten and Tyren Young swatting a pass away from the intended receiver on fourth down secured LC's first ever win as a member of the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference.
 
James Powell, Jr. wasn't asked to throw much, but when he did, it was big. He was seven-of-12 as a passer for 186 yards and three touchdowns as well as an interception. He also ran 13 times for 73 yards.
 
Micah Dunn was Powell's favorite target, grabbing four catches for 127 yards and two scores.
 
Devin Briscoe was the team's top rusher as he was given the ball 29 times and totaled 83 rush yards with a score. Canaan Leon's only catch in the game went for 53 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Ernest Simon led the way with 12 total tackles, one for a loss. Gerald Burton had the team's lone interception, which he returned for 19 yards.
 
Me'kyle Franklin returned three kickoffs for 124 yards, including the 85-yard touchdown return, and had a second kickoff return touchdown called back by penalty. He also returned two punts for 19 yards.
 
The Wildcats (1-5, 1-3 SAC) can now enjoy a week off as winners before getting back to action on Saturday, October 16^th on the road at Wayland Baptist. Kickoff against the Pioneers (2-3, 2-2 SAC) is set for 2:00 P.M. at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Field in Plainview, Texas.