Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score Goodwell, Okla.—The Panhandle State football team ran onto the gridiron for the last time of the 2016 season on Saturday with intentions of upsetting a red hot Texas A&M Kingsville team. After three challenging quarters, the Aggies made a great effort to claw back from a huge deficit. Unfortunately, TAMUK was too much for the Aggies to overcome as the game ended with a 53-39 victory for the Javelinas.

The Aggies found themselves on the wrong side of a game of special teams madness, consisting of the Javelias taking advantage of multiple momentum swings such as a blocked punt and an onside kick recovery that ultimately led to one score after another. Aside from special teams, the Aggies were forced to become a one dimensional passing offense as the running game hit skids once again.

On the second TAMKU possession, the Javelinas found room for running back Nick Pelrean to shuffle in for a 12-yard touchdown run to kick start an opening lead. Panhandle State wide receiver Miguel Hudson would quickly jolt the Aggies into great field position on the ensuing kickoff with a 78-yard return deep into Javelina territory. Failing to find the endzone after the return, the Aggies would settle for a 31-yard field goal from the boot of kicker Sterling Claphan squeezing the lead to 7-3. After a quick TAMKU three-and-out, the Aggies gave the ball right back as the Javelinas recovered a fumble by running back Rod Moore inside Aggie territory. TAMKU would capitalize five plays later after a shifty 5-yard touchdown scamper from running back Greg Pitre to hoist the lead to 14-3. The Aggies dug into their bag of tricks on the next drive with an end around pass from Eddie Thomas IV to Brandon Trotter for a 67-yard touchdown, closing the TAMKU lead again to four points. Linebacker Braedon Robinson and defensive lineman Confidence Okpoko gave TAMKU an early second quarter treat by sacking Aggie quarterback Shane Truelove for a 12-yard loss resulting in a safety. The Javelinas would score their next touchdown in an unorthodox way after a completed pass was fumbled by an eligible receiving lineman Audra Long, and picked up by fellow lineman Michael O'Neal for a 4-yard recovery to the end zone. Being down 23-10, the Aggies went to the air on their next drive and the Javelinas were ready as defensive back Devonte Williams intercepted Truelove for a 70-yard pick six.  Following a successful onside kick recovery, TAMKU would add to the lead with a 12-yard touchdown run from tight end Stehly Reden to give the Javelinas a comfortable 37-10 cushion. Just before the end of the first half, the Aggies drove the length of the field and Truelove would throw his first touchdown pass of the game to Thomas IV for a 3-yard score with six seconds remaining.

TAMKU made another special teams splash to start the second half by blocking punt from Jacob Test, forcing the Aggies to jump on the ball in their own end zone and causing their second safety of the game. The Javelinas would cash in on the safety with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Myles Carr to tight end Roe Posada to pile on a 46-17 lead. After another Truelove interception to defensive back Joe Crowe, running back Pelrean would strike again with a 47-yard touchdown gash to give TAMKU their final score for the game. With the score 53-17, the Aggies pinned back their ears and let it rip throughout whole fourth quarter beginning with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Truelove to wide receiver Steven White Jr. During the Aggies' next possession, Truelove would throw a 77-yard touchdown score to running back Moore on the first play to close the gap 53-31. The Aggies would continue their fourth quarter magic after another huge touchdown pass from Truelove to wide receiver Devyn Williams for 60 yards on the first play of the drive for the second time in a row. Wide receiver Andrew Hernandez would get open for a two-point conversion for the Aggies to make the score 53-39 with just over four minutes left in the game. The Aggies held a great amount of momentum and gave the home crowd hope for a comeback, but TAMKU shut those chances down recovering the onside kick and holding on to the ball for the remainder of the clock.

The Javelinas controlled the majority of the game with a solid balance attack on offense by gaining 271 yards rushing and 233 yards passing and a total of 484 yards. On the other hand, the Aggies struggled to get the ball moving in the running game and relied heavily on their passing game. The Aggies ended the game with 84 rushing yards and 410 passing yards and a total of 464 yards. The Aggies struggled to grasp rhythm throughout the first half of the game; however, Panhandle State head coach Russell Gaskamp expressed how well the team rebooted later on. "I was proud of our guys fighting their butts off in the 2nd half, and finishing with a really strong 4th quarter. As a staff, you want to see your guys fight", he said. Ending the season 2-9 overall and (1-8) in the LSC, the Aggies look to head into the post season with different expectations for next year. Coach Gas shared how the team plans to spend their time in doing so. "We will have time to reflect with our seniors on Tuesday then we go into the off-season. The goal now is to prepare our guys on campus and to recruit incoming players for a championship season in 2017. We have to finish the semester strong in the classroom and recreate a culture of winning going forward. We are excited about the future of our program."    

Truelove finished his last game as an Aggie with 325 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions to finish out an impressive season. Running back Rod Moore led the team in rushing yards with 11 carries for 42 yards. Wide receivers Brandon Trotter, Steven White Jr., and Devyn Williams all made an impact combining for 221 yards. Trotter had 5 receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown, Steven White Jr. caught 6 passes for 58 yards and one touchdown, and Devyn Williams caught one pass for 60 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, the Aggies were led by linebacker Brandon Gipe and defensive back Marcus McCants with nine tackles a piece as defensive end Nate Leota followed with eight.

For fifteen Aggie football players Saturday was the final time they would take the field for Panhandle State. Royce Asi, Beau Avila, J.B. Frontz, Guerrero Garcia, Brandon Gipe, Allston Hadley, Andrew Hernandez, Neptune Joseph, Nate Leota, Rod Moore, John Pitts, Dashawn Stephens, Cortney Stinnett, Brandon Trotter and Shane Truelove were all recognized in the company of family and friends prior to the game. Coach Gaskamp and the Aggies wish to thank their fans for all their support this season and for helping make the newly created tailgate section such a popular success, "We hope that this (tailgate section) explodes to an even greater home field advantage at No Man's Land Stadium in 2017."