GOODWELL, Okla. — Homecoming at Anchor D Stadium saw the Oklahoma Panhandle State football team (1-3, 0-2 SAC) total 293 yards passing and over 400 yards of offense Saturday night, but the Aggies committed costly penalties in a 56-27 loss to Louisiana Christian (3-2, 3-0).
 
Highlighting the day for the Aggies was freshman wide receiver David Zeller, whose very first collegiate catch came on a third-down go-route which went for 76 yards and a touchdown and brought OPSU to within 14-10 in the second quarter.
 
Zeller's next opportunity came with under a minute to go in the first half with Panhandle State trailing, 28-10. On another go-route lined up one-on-one on the outside, Zeller made a sensational adjustment to Chance Guadiz' pass for a 55-yard touchdown.
 
The two Zeller touchdown catches – going for a combined 131 yards – marked the first two passing touchdowns of the season for OPSU, thanks to the unlikeliest of sources in the Austria native. Zeller finished his day with four receptions for 150 yards, helping lift Guadiz to a career-high 270 yards passing on the day.
 
A strong start: The evening began with OPSU's defense forcing a pair of punts against LCU's high-octane attack as, offensively, Rylan Johnson and Guadiz helped generate positive gains. The opening drive led to a 34-yard field goal for Carlos Vazquez and an early 3-0 lead.
 
Missed opportunities: Late in the first quarter, JaCobie Johnson intercepted a pass from Bryce Jenkins, but offsetting penalties negated what would have been a golden opportunity for Panhandle State to take a two-score lead.
 
LCU completed a 23-yard pass on the next play, setting up the first of four consecutive touchdown drives for the visitors.
 
Though the Aggies made a huge play of their own with a forced fumble and recovery on a kickoff late in the first half that set up Vazquez for a field goal to make it a one-score game through 30 minutes, OPSU could not double-up on scores after receiving the second-half kickoff.
 
Still within one score late in the third quarter, Panhandle State blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown that – with a two-point try – could have tied the game. Instead, a penalty overturned the massive momentum swing, and the Aggies soon turned the ball over themselves as LCU ran away with the contest in the fourth quarter.
 
Highlight performances: Beyond Zeller's headline-catching day, receiver D'Kyri Williams hauled in a career-best nine passes for 79 yards.
 
On the ground, OPSU spread it around between Jerry Martin, Rylan Johnson, Guadiz and Jacob Chavez, each of whom had at least 20 yards. Martin led the group with 43 yards on seven carries, and Tach Brewer notched a touchdown run in the third quarter.
 
Defensively, Charles Holmes III and Hector Zamora both forced a fumble, while JaCobie Johnson had two pass breakups. Holmes III also had a sack, as he was joined by Nate Orta and Devin Thomas who combined for a sack. Orta led all players in the game with 12 tackles.
 
What's up next: OPSU travels to play Wayland Baptist (2-2, 1-2 SAC) for its only road game in the month of October next Saturday, Oct. 4.