Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies delivered an exhilarating performance on the football field as they hosted Texas College, emerging victorious with a final score of 44-32 in front of a spirited crowd at their home stadium.
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In a high-scoring affair, the game opened with a bang, featuring explosive plays from both sides.
Jalen Partida set the tone for OPSU with a thrilling 43-yard kickoff return, and the Aggies quickly followed it up with a 36-yard field goal by
Alan Munoz, giving them an early 3-0 lead.
OPSU's defense came up big in the very next series when
Alon Woodberry (#26) intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, extending the Aggies' lead to 10-0. The Steers of Texas College retaliated with a kickoff return for a touchdown, making it 10-6 after an unsuccessful two-point conversion.
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With just four minutes left in the first quarter,
Brandon Stephens dashed 25 yards for a touchdown, and Munoz's extra point was good, bringing the score to 17-6 in favor of the Aggies. Texas College responded with a 27-yard passing touchdown but failed to convert the two-point attempt.
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OPSU's running back,
CJ Campbell, was having a strong outing until he lost a fumble with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter.
 The second quarter saw no scoring until the OPSU defense intercepted a pass, giving the offense an opportunity. They capitalized on it, with
Brandon Stephens connecting with
Jalen Partida for a 10-yard touchdown, and Munoz's extra point increased the Aggies' lead to 24-12 at halftime.
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The third quarter saw the Aggies continue their offensive onslaught with
CJ Campbell's 9-yard rushing touchdown, though the extra point was blocked.
Brandon Stephens added another highlight to his performance with a 39-yard rushing touchdown, making it 37-12.
The fourth quarter was not without its share of action as Texas College managed to score twice. They secured a 13-yard pass and a 55-yard passing touchdown, but were unable to convert the two-point tries. OPSU responded with a 58-yard rushing touchdown by
CJ Campbell, and the extra point was good, putting the Aggies ahead at 44-24.
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Texas College didn't back down, scoring on a 2-yard rush and succeeding with a two-point conversion, making it 44-32. The Steers attempted an onside kick, but OPSU recovered it, sealing the victory.
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Brandon Stephens was the standout performer for the Aggies, amassing 201 passing yards, one passing touchdown, 113 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns.
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After the game, Head Coach
Cory Miller acknowledged the challenges his team faced in the first half but praised their ability to regroup and perform exceptionally well in the second half. "We have some young guys on special teams," Coach Miller commented, "we told them their skill players can run, but we were able to settle down defensively and overcome some of those miscues early. Then our offense was able to come alive in the second half, and it was great to see converting those drives to touchdowns."
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The Aggies will take their winning momentum on the road next weekend, facing North American University on Saturday, October 21st, at 2 PM.
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