PLAINVIEW, Texas — A near-perfect start for Oklahoma Panhandle State football (1-4, 0-3 SAC) in Saturday's late afternoon contest at Wayland Baptist (3-2, 2-2) faded quickly as the Aggies fell by a final score of 33-20.
 
The day could not have started much better for OPSU when it forced a quick three-and-out and responded promptly with a touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead on the road.
 
Working with a short field following a WBU punt, Chance Guadiz picked up a third-down conversion with a 10-yard rush and, two plays later, converted on third down again with a 29-yard touchdown strike to Dillon Laurer.
 
OPSU's defense continued to answer the call throughout the first quarter, causing Wayland to punt on each of its first four possessions.
 
The Pioneers got on the board early in the second period with a field goal, and the hosts got the ball back with an interception shortly thereafter. WBU used the turnover to flip momentum in the game as it took a 16-3 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
Rylan Johnson picked up chunk yardage on the ground at times in the third quarter, but OPSU's passing game struggled as the visitors could not finish drives.
 
Trailing 19-7 with the Pioneers driving, the Aggies gave themselves life when Charles Holmes III forced a fumble that was recovered by Devin Thomas, handing OPSU possession to begin the fourth quarter.
 
Panhandle State struggled to complete passes, however, and Wayland Baptist responded with a touchdown drive to give it a 26-7 lead with time running out.
 
Johnson answered emphatically with nearly 50 yards rushing on the ensuing possession, an eight-play, 62-yard touchdown drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Guadiz.
 
WBU put the game away with a touchdown of its own, however, negating the impact of an electric 87-yard kickoff return touchdown by David Zeller in the final two minutes that made it 33-20.
 
The Pioneers were dominant on the ground, rushing for 385 yards and picking up 18 first downs on their rushing attempts.
 
For OPSU, Johnson closed with 78 rushing yards, and Guadiz collected 171 passing yards. Zeller had a team-high 52 receiving yards, while D'Kyri Williams and William Rodriguez III each made three catches.
 
Defensively, Logan Anderson totaled nine tackles, and Elzie Barnett III notched a game-best 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
 
What's up next: OPSU begins a three-game homestand next Saturday at 4 p.m. versus Nelson (1-3, 1-2 SAC).