BATON ROUGE, La. – The reigning Sooner Athletic Conference Champion #19/#17 Louisiana Christian University football team rolled up almost 350 yards of total offense but an early deficit was too much to overcome in a 50-31 loss to NCAA Division I Southern Jaguars Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
#19/#17 Louisiana Christian (3-1, 2-0 SAC) answered an early touchdown by Southern (2-2) by getting one of its own as
Bryce Perkins found
Darius Washington who raced to the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown strike.
Southern scored the next 20 points before
Preston Baker connected from 39 yards out to cut the deficit to 27-10. The Jaguars responded with a field goal right before halftime to take a 30-10 lead into the break.
In the second half,
Phillip Jones II found
Leyton Faul from 30 yards out for a score and
Datlan Cunningham busted in from two yards out. Matthew Cates, Jr. capped LCU's scoring on the night as he busted loose for a 69-yard touchdown scamper for the game's final score.
Perkins was 12-of-19 for 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Jones II completed the only pass he threw which was the 30-yard touchdown pass to Faul. That represented Faul's only reception on the evening as well.
Washington had two receptions for 54 yards and the touchdown to lead the team in receiving yards for the night.
EJ Scott had the most receptions with four, gaining 52 yards in the process.
The scoring run by Cates, Jr. led him to being LCU's leading rusher on the night, finishing with 66 net yards and the touchdown on the ground.
Kedrian McNeil ran five times for 44 yards.
Cunningham and
Jaterrius Johnson got the ball handed to them 11 times each with Johnson picking up 39 yards while Cunningham rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Jermarian Jackson led the defense with 10 total tackles, 2.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage.
Cameron Brazzle had five tackles, also getting in on 2.5 tackles for loss.
Jonathan Moore-LeDay also had five tackles, 1.5 for loss, including a sack.
In two games against NCAA Division I teams this season, LCU averaged 36.5 points.
The #19/#17 Wildcats begin a three-game homestand next Saturday as Oklahoma Panhandle State comes to Pineville for a SAC match-up. Kickoff of Saturday's contest against the Aggies (2-2, 0-1 SAC) is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcat Field.
