PINEVILLE, La. – In a battle between two of the three teams which shared the 2025 Sooner Athletic Conference Championship, the #16/#16 Louisiana Christian University football team jumped out to a 35-7 lead over (RV) Texas Wesleyan at halftime and held off a furious second half comeback attempt to defeat the Rams, 42-27, Saturday at Wildcat Field.
After the two teams traded punts to start the game, #16/#16 Louisiana Christian (6-1, 4-0 SAC) struck first as
Bryce Perkins capped a seven-play drive by finding
Omarius Davis behind the defense for a 42-yard touchdown strike, putting the Wildcats up 7-0.
Early in the second quarter, Perkins and Davis connected again, this time capping a six-play drive with an 11-yard scoring pass for a 14-0 LCU lead.
That lead wouldn't last long as (RV) Texas Wesleyan broke through on the first play of its ensuing drive with a 75-yard scoring scamper to make it 14-7.
It took less than a minute for the Wildcats to answer that score with another one of their own as Perkins found
EJ Scott running away from Ram defenders for a 45-yard touchdown and a 21-7 LCU lead.
On LCU's next possession,
Datlan Cunningham broke free and rumbled for a 45-yard score and a 28-7 advantage.
With the half running out, the Wildcats were able to go on a 12-play drive and covered 95 yards over 3:43, and with eight seconds left before halftime,
Jaterrius Johnson powered in from two yards out to give the Wildcats a 35-7 lead as the teams went to the half.
Out of the half, Texas Wesleyan started its comeback attempt, scoring a touchdown on its opening possession and then adding a field goal later in the period to cut LCU's lead down to 35-17 at the end of the third quarter.
The Rams pulled closer to start the fourth, tacking on another field goal to make it 35-20. LCU settled things back down a bit by going on a 10-play, 88-yard drive with Perkins fooling the entire stadium and strolling into the end zone from one-yard out to make it 42-20. TXWES added another touchdown with less than five minutes left and the Wildcats were able to close out the game from there.
Perkins completed 13 of his 29 pass attempts for 289 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed it 10 times for 10 yards and another touchdown.
Davis was his top target, making seven receptions for 153 yards and two scores.
Brandon Henderson, Jr. had three catches for 77 yards.
Scott's lone catch of the game was his 45-yard touchdown catch.
Cunningham was the top rusher for the Wildcats, rushing the ball 23 times for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson rushed it 19 times for 116 yards and a score.
Both
Jordan Oglesby and
Jermarian Jackson both racked up a pair of sacks.
Brandon Johnson II had seven tackles to lead the team.
The #16/#16 Wildcats now start a three-game road trip next Saturday in Waxahachie, Texas, taking on Nelson, Kickoff of Saturday's contest against the Lions (1-5, 1-3 SAC) is set for 2 p.m. at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium.
