Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies honored their ten outstanding seniors in a spectacular display of talent and determination in a thrilling football matchup against the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions. The Aggies came out on top with a resounding 46-29 victory, marking their fifth win of the season, an accomplishment the program hasn't achieved since 2018.
Before the game, the Aggies took the time to pay tribute to their ten seniors who have dedicated themselves to the program and displayed exceptional leadership throughout their college careers. The seniors include Kameron Dickerson, Dontrail Session, Jesus Rodriguez, Ryan Acosta, Tracy Todd, Myles Ratliff, Nathan Alvarado, Nicholas Kim, Parker Mathes, and Kalum Anchondo.
The Aggies' performance on the field was nothing short of extraordinary. They started the game on defense, and Alon Woodberry set the tone with an interception to give the Aggies possession. The offense capitalized on the turnover with a drive that culminated in CJ Campbell's 12-yard rushing touchdown at the 11:14 mark, followed by Alan Munoz's successful extra point.
The Aggies continued to dominate with an 80-yard drive, which resulted in a spectacular 51-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Stephens to Cuttino Rhea. The two-point conversion, courtesy of a Loren Snead pass to Kameron Dickerson, was successful. The Lions' next drive was cut short by another interception, this time by Loren Snead.
The Aggies kept the momentum going, scoring on their third consecutive drive. CJ Campbell rushed for a 45-yard touchdown, and the extra point was good, bringing the score to 22-0 in favor of the Aggies. The remainder of the second quarter saw multiple punts from both teams, with the Aggies blocking SAGU's field goal attempt just before halftime.
In the third quarter, Alejandro Holguin's fumble recovery set the stage for another Aggies touchdown, this time by Brandon Stephens on a 12-yard rush. The Lions' fumbles continued, with Nathan Alvarado recovering one for the Aggies. OPSU capitalized on the turnover with another touchdown, as Brandon Stephens rushed for a 1-yard TD, extending their lead to 36-3.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University managed to find the end zone, scoring their first touchdown to make the score 36-9. However, the Aggies answered back with a 55-yard touchdown reception by Senior Ryan Acosta, extending their lead to 43-9.
SAGU continued to struggle, turning the ball over for the fifth time as Desmond Greene secured an interception for the Aggies. With just five minutes left in the game, Alan Munoz sealed the victory with a successful 30-yard field goal, bringing the score to 46-9.
The Lions displayed resilience and managed to score twice more in the final moments of the game, but it was not enough to overcome the Aggies' lead. The final score stood at 46-29 in favor of OPSU.
Head Coach Cory Miller expressed his pride in the seniors and the team's performance, stating, "These seniors welcomed us new coaches, they gave us 5 wins, the most in a while here. They need to enjoy this win and savor this moment. I could not be more proud of them."
The Aggies' next challenge will be against #19 Ottawa University Arizona as they strive for their sixth victory of the season.