Football | 10/5/2019 7:21:00 PM
Box Score
GOODWELL, Okla. – It was the Oklahoma Panhandle State University football team that scored first versus the NAIA's No. 20-ranked team, but in the end it was Ottawa University-Arizona which scored most, as OPSU was defeated, 47-7, in its 2019 home opener at Anchor D Stadium at Carl Wooten Field. The Aggies (1-4, 1-2 SAC) were unable to capitalize on a career-best rushing day by quarterback
Tony Brown versus the Spirit (5-0, 3-0 SAC).
Brown carried the ball 27 times and had a Panhandles State and SAC season-high of 225 yards on the ground. Brown average of 8.3 yards per carry. He also completed 10-of-24 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. Brown's rushing total is also the most ground yards allowed to an opponent by the Spirit this season, as well as the second-most by any SAC back in 2019.
While Brown's big numbers came via his feet, it was with his arm that the sophomore used to give the Aggies the early advantage against OUAZ. With the Family Weekend crowd barely in its seats, Brown unleashed a 58-yard touchdown strike to
Seth Barbarino on the fourth play of the game at the 14:22 mark of the first quarter.
Luis Rivas added the extra point kick to make it 7-0.
But Ottawa answered on its next possession, going 71 yards to knot the game at 7-7. The Spirit added a field goal to wrest the lead from the Aggies, 10-7, in the opening quarter. While Panhandle slugged it out with the high-powered Spirit offense – with OUAZ out-gaining the Aggies, 419-to-397 – the host OPSU squad saw no more results on the scoreboard. In all, OUAZ would reel off 47 unanswered points.
On the day, Barbarino had 76 yards on two receptions before being injured in the first half. Running back
George Dominguez had 45 yards on 12 carries.
On the defensive side,
Ja'Quavion Daniels led all defensive players with 13 tackles, five solo. Daniels, who has emerged as a presence in the secondary in recent weeks, has 2.0 tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
Warren Dillon also enjoyed double-digit tackle totals with 10 stops, eight solo. Senior all-American
Diamante Pounds posted nine tackles and a sack on his ledger.
Charoy Joseph had an interception and three pass break-ups, while
Malik Brown batted away three passes, as well. Joseph and Brown had five and six tackles, respectively.
The Aggies will stay in Goodwell next Saturday (Oct. 12) for their Homecoming Game versus Texas Wesleyan University. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
