LANGSTON, Okla. - Datlan Cunningham powered into the end zone from two yards out with 1:38 remaining to give the Louisiana Christian University football team the lead and an interception by Brandon Johnson II sealed the 31-24 win over the Langston Lions to open Sooner Athletic Conference action Saturday night at W.E. Anderson Stadium.

The Wildcats (1-1, 1-0 SAC) move to 5-0 all-time against the Lions (0-2, 0-1 SAC), but Saturday's game mirrored the first ever meeting between the two teams back in 2021 where LCU also scored a touchdown within the last two minutes to close out a 31-24 victory.

Defense was the order of the day in the first half. LCU turned the ball over on the opening kickoff, giving it to Langston deep in LCU territory. The Wildcat defense held, forcing a three-and-out, and the ensuing field goal attempt went wide left to keep the game scoreless.

LCU took over after the miss and went on to score the game's first points, capping a six-play, 65 yard drive with Levi Hilborn hitting a 35-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead, a lead which would hold to the end of the quarter.

Langston took its first lead of the game early in the second quarter, taking advantage of good field position after a punt and going 34 yards in eight plays and scoring on a one-yard pass for a touchdown and a 7-3 Lion lead.

The Wildcats ate up almost all of the back-half of the second quarter with a 14-play, 84 yard drive which took 6:40 off the clock and resulted in a 25-yard field goal by Hilborn, pulling LCU within one at 7-6 as the two teams went to the locker room for the halftime break.

Langston was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half, and the Lions downed it at the five, forcing the Wildcats to go the length of the field for a score.

It took just four plays for LCU to do just that as Bryce Perkins found Xavion Butler behind the Lion defense and hit him in stride for an 81-yard touchdown pass, putting the Wildcats back in front at 13-7.

Just a couple plays later, LCU's situation got even better as Jordan Oglesby stripped the ball from Langston quarterback Aden Hooper and Lyric Hawkins picked it up in stride, running 30 yards for another Wildcat touchdown, extending the lead to 20-7.

But Langston had answers, scoring on back-to-back drives to reclaim the lead at 21-20 to end the third quarter and setting up the frantic finish.

The Wildcats went back on top as Hilborn split the uprights from 36 yards out to wrap up a five-play, 32 yard drive and make the score 23-21 LCU.

Langston would get to the edge of the goal line, but the Wildcats held them out and forced them to go for an 18-yard field goal as the Lions went back up 24-23 with less than six minutes left.

LCU went on the decisive drive, going on an 11-play, 77 yard jaunt with Cunningham powering in from two yards out on third and goal for what would prove to be the decisive score. Perkins found David Voorhies III in the end zone for the two-point conversion to give LCU a full touchdown lead at 31-24 with just 1:38 remaining on the clock.

Langston moved frantically down the field in pursuit of the tying score in the limited time remaining, getting down to the LCU 32 yard line.

Hooper decided to try for a deep shot down the middle of the field to get in the red zone, but Johnson II stepped in front of the intended receiver and picked it off, securing the Wildcat victory.

Perkins was 10-of-23 through the air for 258 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

EJ Scott was his top target, getting four receptions for 112 yards.

Butler had three catches for 110 yards, including the 81-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

Cunningham was the top rusher for the Wildcats, picking up 84 yards on 26 carries and the game-winning touchdown.

Tyrese Mosby added 50 yards on nine carries.

As a team, the Wildcats rushed for 140 yards on the day.

The Wildcats come home for the first time this season next Saturday as Wayland Baptist comes to Pineville for a Sooner Athletic Conference contest. Opening kickoff of Saturday's game against the Pioneers (0-1, 0-1 SAC) is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcat Field.