SURPRISE, Ariz. – The 21st-ranked OUAZ football closed out its three-game homestand in a record setting way as they defeated Wayland Baptist 80-21 on Saturday night at Spirit Field.
 
In scoring a school record 80 points, OUAZ (4-0, 2-0 SAC) tallied the first 52 points of the night in taking a 73-7 lead into halftime. The 80 total points match the season-high in the NAIA this season while the 73 points in a half are also a school record.
 
OUAZ scored 11 touchdowns on the night from 11 different players. Along with throwing for seven touchdowns, the Spirit returned two fumbles for scores, blocked a punt for a touchdown and rushed for a score.
 
Austin McCullough ended his night with 398 yards passing and those seven touchdowns in just the first half. He completed 15 of his 21 passing attempts for his 10th career – and third this season – game with 300-plus passing yards.
 
McCullough and Jack Graham completed passes to 16 different receivers with only four of those having two grabs. Shamar Moreland went for 102 yards on his two receptions, including a 57-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
 
OUAZ totaled 549 yards of total offense while averaging 9.0 yards per their 61 plays. The two quarterbacks combined for 466 yards passing and the team added 83 yards rushing. The Spirit went 4 of 10 on third down and they punted just once and had 23 first downs.
 
Scotty Nixon led the Spirit with 63 rushing yards on 17 second-half carries. He also scored the team's final touchdown.
 
Defensively, the Spirit tied a school record with seven sacks that went for 59 yards of loss. They also tied a school record – set against Wayland Baptist last season – with three interceptions. OUAZ forced five turnovers in total in allowing the Pioneers (1-3, 0-2) 417 total yards.
 
Brandon Tomerlin Jr. tied for the team lead with six tackles. Solo Moeai also made six tackles while scoring on a blocked punt return. Quinten Blair returned a fumble for a score and Travis Pantazis recovered a fumble in the end zone for six points.
 
Christian Viville tied the OUAZ record with 3.5 sacks while forcing a pair of fumbles. Amare Burks, Rylen Kaniaupio, and Justin Barnett each had an interception.
 
Having played three straight games at home, OUAZ will now get head to the road for consecutive games. That starts next Saturday, October 5 when they face Oklahoma Panhandle State in Goodwell, Oklahoma.