PLAINVIEW, Texas – A furious comeback bid by the Oklahoma Panhandle State University football team went for naught as host Wayland Baptist University needed a fourth quarter tally to notch a 29-24 win. The Aggies (0-4) fought their way back from a 16-0 deficit less than eight minutes into the game versus the Pioneers (1-1).
   
OPSU actually wrested the lead midway through the third quarter. Aggie quarterback KC Crandall connected with wide receiver Chris Daley on a 32-yard touchdown strike that, after the extra point kick, gave the visiting OPSU team a 24-22 advantage.
 
To even be in that position, the Aggie defense stepped by in a big way. 
 
Panhandle's first points of the day were on a 37-yard field goal by Matthew Lopez. A 32-yard punt return by Connor Perkins gave OPSU great field position, only to have the drive stall at the WBU 20 and necessitating Lopez's kick, 16-3.
 
After the Pioneers added a field goal of their own, the OPSU defense made its first big mark. WBU faced a third-and-23 from its own 24-yard line when Xavier Starks stripped Pioneer quarterback Nick Quintero, with D'Quan Charles scooping up the ball and taking it to the house to make it 19-10.
 
The defense forced a three-and-out by the Pioneers and the Aggies began matters from their own 31. That's when OPSU running back Jamalrian Jones sprang into action, literally. Jones took a hand-off on first down and sliced through the WBU defense on a 64-yard run, before being pushed out on the five. Jones got the call again and went the final five yards, cutting the deficit to 19-17 with 5:16 left in the first half.
 
That score stood as the teams went in to the halftime locker room.
 
WBU put another field goal on the board at the 7:46 juncture of the third quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, a 36-yard return by Jaishone Brown gave OPSU starting position at its own 37. That paved the way for the eventual Crandall-Daley connection that put the Aggies ahead, 24-22.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, WBU began what would be the game-winning drive near midfield. Four plays later the Pioneers scored the deciding points, 29-24.
 
Jones finished the afternoon with 110 yards rushing on 14 carries, an average of 7.9 yards per attempt. It was the Aggies' first 100-yard rushing game since Tony Brown had exactly 100 yards in 2019 versus Wayland Baptist.
 
Brown had three kickoff returns for a total of 86 yards.
 
On the defensive side, Warren Dillon had 12 total tackles – seven solo – and an interception. Anthony Taylor finished the afternoon with 10 tackles.
 
Senior Braden Price had a great day, with seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack to his credit. Ja'Quavian Daniels had six total tackles, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Charles finished with five tackles (four solo), a sack and the fumble recovery and return for a TD.