PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University football team will bring a chance to clinch a share of the Sooner Athletic Conference championship into the final week of the season after the Wildcats dominated the Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes 77-6 Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Field.
 
Freshman safety Kylon Polk had a day for the record books, picking off the Buffaloes four times, one of which he returned 53 yards for a touchdown.
 
Louisiana Christian (7-3, 6-1 SAC) asserted its dominance immediately, taking in the opening kickoff and marching right down the field with the ball with Jaterrius Johnson, who rushed for 55 yards in total on the drive, capped it with a 23-yard scamper to the end zone for a 7-0 lead not even 75 seconds into the contest.
 
After forcing Arkansas Baptist (2-8, 1-7 SAC) into a three-and-out, the Wildcats took advantage of good field position following a Buffaloes penalty on the punt. It took five plays for LCU to get back to paydirt as EJ Scott took the handoff on an end around and raced 16 yards to the end zone as the Wildcats extended the lead out to 14-0 not even four minutes into the contest. That would be the score as the game moved into the second quarter.
 
LCU took full control of the contest in the second period. Perkins ended a five-play, 52-yard drive by finding Scott behind the defense for a 41-yard touchdown as LCU went up 21-0.
 
After the ensuing ABC drive ended with Polk's third interception of the first half, Datlan Cunningham was handed the ball twice, the first going for one yard, the second he busted loose for an 82-yard touchdown scamper as the Wildcats pushed the lead out to 28-0.
 
Arkansas Baptist pulled some trickery on the following kickoff, using a reverse on the return to bust free for a touchdown and score its lone points of the day. The ensuing point after was blocked, keeping the score at 28-6.
 
The Wildcats did not take too kindly to the trickery, getting that touchdown back in just four plays as Perkins found Scott free again, this time from 21 yards out to make it 35-6 with 7:29 still left in the second quarter.
 
On ABC's ensuing possession, Jordan Oglesby forced a fumble which Ashton Sanders Jr recovered and brought back to the Buffaloes six-yard line. It took four shots at it, but Jaterrius Johnson pounded in from the one-yard line on fourth and goal for a 42-6 Wildcat lead with 5:21 left before halftime.
 
The defense forced another punt and, two plays later, Phillip Jones II found Darrell Waldon who raced past the defense to the end zone for a 55-yard scoring play as LCU went up 49-6, finally ending the first half scoring as the two teams went to the halftime break.
 
LCU kept the motor going into the third quarter. After forcing a turnover on downs on Arkansas Baptist's first possession of the second half, the Wildcats marched 85 yards in 10 plays with Cunningham pushing his way in from seven yards out to make it 56-6.
 
Polk's fourth, and final, final interception of the day would have the most direct impact on the scoreboard as he took it in at the LCU 47 and raced all the way to the end zone for a 53-yard pick-six as LCU's lead grew to 63-6, which would be the score at the end of the third quarter.
 
With a slew of back-ups in to close out the game, Trae Grogan got another turnover, getting an interception which he returned to the Arkansas Baptist 25. That turned into another Wildcat score as Travis Adams rushed in from seven yards out to make it 70-6.
 
LCU's final score of the day was another chunk play as Ashontis Brooks Jr. went right up the middle and burst through the line on the first play of the drive, racing 54 yards to the end zone for the touchdown, giving the Wildcats the game's final points.
 
Perkins was 13-of-21 through the air for 217 yards with 2 passing touchdowns and was not intercepted.
 
Scott was the top target on the day, catching four passes for 74 yards and two scores. He also had one rush, which went 16 yards to the end zone. All told, Scott accounted for 90 yards and three touchdowns on the day.
 
Cunningham was the top rusher, needed just seven carries to get 105 yards and two scores. Johnson was also handed the ball seven times, getting 68 yards while also entering the end zone twice.
 
Oglesby led the defense with 12 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and two sacks while forcing a fumble.
 
Polk had four tackles to go with his four interceptions and a touchdown.
 
The Wildcats head to Surprise, Ari. for the regular season finale next week, looking to clinch a share of the SAC championship when they take on #12 Ottawa. Kickoff of Saturday's contest against the Spirit (8-0, 7-0 SAC) is set for 7 p.m. MST/8 p.m. CST at Spirit Field.
 
A win by LCU over Ottawa would guarantee the Wildcats a share of the SAC Title with the Spirit, which would be LCU's second in three years. LCU could still earn the SAC's automatic berth into the NAIA Football Championship Series if a Wildcat win is paired with a Texas Wesleyan loss to Wayland Baptist. A win by Texas Wesleyan combined with a LCU win would bring about the three-way tiebreaker which would heavily favor the Rams over the Wildcats or Spirit in the race for the automatic bid to the postseason.