FORT WORTH, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University football team, which received votes in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, went shot-for-shot with #20 Texas Wesleyan early, but the Rams pulled away in the second quarter for a 61-28 result Saturday evening at the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium.
 
(RV) Louisiana Christian (4-3, 3-1 SAC) struck first as Bryce Perkins found Brenen Hawkins for a 10-yard touchdown pass on the game's first drive, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 after 13 plays, 73 yards, and 4:34 off the clock.
 
#20 Texas Wesleyan (4-2, 4-0 SAC) needed just two plays to respond, hitting on a 61-yard touchdown pass to tie the score.
 
LCU answered in kind, also needing just two plays to go back in front as Perkins hit EJ Scott for a 72-yard touchdown to put the Wildcats back up 14-7 just six minutes into the first quarter.
 
After a couple of defensive stops, the Rams tied things back up with a two-yard run, making it 14-14. That's the way the first quarter ended.
 
LCU started the second quarter going back in front as Datlan Cunningham ended a 10-play, 75-yard Wildcat drive with a 3-yard touchdown rush, giving Louisiana Christian a 21-14 lead.
 
But that's where Texas Wesleyan started to get in its groove both offensively and defensively. The Rams hit on a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the ensuing drive which not only tied the score at 21-21 but also started a run of 24-straight TXWES points to end the half which gave the Rams a 38-21 lead at the break.
 
The run continued into the third quarter as the Rams hit a pair of field goals to extend the LCU deficit to 44-21.
 
The Wildcats seemed to get a bit of momentum going as Datlan Cunningham broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown rush, ending a four-play, 60-yard drive that took only 1:09 off the clock, cutting the Ram lead down to 44-28.
 
But the comeback was not to be. Texas Wesleyan started the fourth quarter with an interception return for touchdown, the first seven of 17 points the Rams scored in the final 15 minutes while LCU would not add to their total anymore.
 
Perkins hit 18 of his 36 pass attempts for 250 yards and two scoring tosses but was intercepted three times.
 
His top target was Scott who had five catches for 122 yards and a score.
 
Omarius Davis made four receptions for 33 yards.
 
Hawkins had two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.
 
Cunningham was given the rock 18 times and ran for 97 yards with two scores.
 
Nate Sullivan led the defense with nine total tackles. David Voorhies III and Judson Mixon both had eight tackles with Mixon getting credited with 2.5 tackles for loss.
 
The Wildcats head back home for three-straight, starting homecoming next Saturday as LCU hosts Nelson. Kickoff of Saturday's contest against the Lions (1-4, 1-3 SAC) is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcat Field.