PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University football team took advantage of a couple Texas College miscues and that would be all the Wildcats would need, holding off the Steers for a 12-7 win Friday night at Wildcat Field.
Louisiana Christian (6-3, 5-1 SAC) would play from behind most of the way as Texas College (0-7, 0-6 SAC) took its second drive of the day and marched 72 yards in nine plays, finishing off with an eight-yard touchdown pass to go up 7-0. The score remained that way into the second quarter.
The Steers seemed poised to enhance their lead, getting down to the LCU 15-yard line before their drive stalled, and the TC kicker came in to attempt a 31-yard field goal. That's where the Wildcats made their first big special teams play as
Nate Sullivan flew in off the edge and blocked the kick.
Brandon Johnson II picked the ball up off the hop and raced 69 yards the other way for the Wildcat touchdown, cutting the Texas College lead down to 7-6 after the point after was missed. That would be the halftime score.
LCU came out of the half looking for the big play as
Darius Washington took in the kickoff to open the third quarter and handed it off to
Darrell Waldon on the reverse. He ran all the way to the Texas College 39 before being forced out of bounds on the big return. However, it would be all for naught as the ensuing drive ended in a failed fourth down attempt. The score remained 7-6 TC after three.
The Wildcats got another big break from the special teams early in the fourth quarter. On a fourth and 21 play for the Steers from their own 46, the TC long snapper sailed the ball high over the punter's head. The TC punter fell on the ball on his own 23, giving LCU the ball just outside of the red zone.
LCU took full advantage as, two plays later,
Bryce Perkins found
Omarius Davis behind the defense in the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown pass, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 12-7, with 13:41 left in it. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt was stopped short.
The Wildcat defense came up big on Texas College's ensuing drive, holding strong on a fourth and two play and stopping the Steers at the LCU 20 for the turnover on downs. LCU had its chances to put the game away on offense, but a 50-yard field goal attempt was just wide to the left to end one opportunity while the other was stuffed on a fourth and two play at the Texas College 26.
However, with the clock showing just 52 seconds left and no timeouts left for Texas College, the Wildcat defense was called on to close out the win. The Steers moved up to their own 49-yard line, but with five seconds left, were down to their last play.
Jermarian Jackson made sure there would not be even an attempt at a Hail Mary pass to the end zone as he got in on the quarterback and wrapped him up for the sack as time expired to end the contest.
Jaterrius Johnson rolled through the Texas College defense all night, rushing for 130 yards on 22 carries, his longest being a 43-yard scamper in the second half.
Datlan Cunningham ended the night with 40 yards on 17 carries.
Perkins finished the game 10 of 18 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown.
EJ Scott had four catches to lead the team, getting 26 yards.
Davis led the team in receiving yards with 48 on three receptions, including the go-ahead touchdown.
Trace McHugh led the defense with eight total tackles, 1.5 for loss and had a hand in on a sack.
Along with the blocked the field goal attempt, Sullivan had an interception which he returned 40 yards.
The Wildcats will now enjoy their bye week before wrapping up their three-game homestand on Sat., Nov. 8 when Arkansas Baptist comes to Pineville for LCU's final home game of the 2025 season, which will also be Senior Day. Kickoff of the Senior Day contest against the Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4 SAC) is set for 2 p.m. at Wildcat Field.
