LANGSTON, Okla. – Playing the first Sooner Athletic Conference game in school and conference history, the OUAZ football team quickly fell behind No. 14 Langston University 21-0 before both teams put on an offensive show that resulted with the home Lions sneaking out a 63-56 win on a late touchdown.
 
Things didn't start well for OUAZ (1-1, 0-1 SAC) as they allowed a 95-yard touchdown run on the first offensive play of the game. It then got worse for the Spirit when their first two drives resulted in punts that were answered by touchdowns from the Lions and just over nine minutes into the game Langston (1-0, 1-0) led 21-0.
 
From that point on the OUAZ offense turned things around. They ended the half with touchdowns on four of their six drive and would take the 35-28 lead when Jack Graham found Marcelous Chester-Riley on a 27-yard scoring play with 1:25 remaining in the half.
 
Langston appeared to get control of the game back in the early stages of the fourth quarter behind consecutive scoring drives that had the Lions leading 56-42 with 11:23 to play. Again unfazed, OUAZ responded with a nine play, 96 yards drive that ended in a touchdown to get within seven.
 
The Spirit defense then recovered a fourth fumble of the day and Austin McCullough capped the ensuing drive with a scoring throw to Ray Springer to tie the game at 56-56 with 4:30 on the clock.
 
Langston showed their composure on the ensuing drive by going 45 yards in 10 plays – including converting a crucial 4th-and-2 – for the game-winning score with 22 second on the clock. OUAZ ran two plays in desperation but gained just five yards.
 
The two teams combined for over 1,100 yards of total offense on a combined 167 plays. OUAZ threw for 436 yards and seven touchdowns on 45 passing attempts. Langston ran for 288 yards and seven scores.
 
Graham finished his day at 15 of 27 for 224 yards and four touchdowns. McCullough came on late in the third quarter to finish 14 of 18 for 212 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Jeremiah Greylock scored on two of his five catches and went for 132 yards, including a 72-yard catch and run in the third quarter. Chester-Riley also had tow receiving scores while also adding one on the ground. Shamar Moreland contributed 309 all-purpose yards, including an 84-yard kickoff return.
 
Justin Barnett led the Spirit defense with 10 tackles – eight solo – and two tackles-for-loss. Alay'John Tamplin added eight tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and one sack.
 
OUAZ will return home next Saturday, September 15, to host Oklahoma Panhandle State. Kickoff at Spirit Field in scheduled for 7 p.m. and ticket information is available at OUAZSpirit.com/tickets.