Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

OUAZ Athletics

Shamar Moreland - November 13, 2021
Richard Martinez
35
OK Panhandle State OPSU 4-7 , 3-6
52
Winner OUAZ OUAZ 8-1 , 8-1
OK Panhandle State OPSU
4-7 , 3-6
35
Final
52
OUAZ OUAZ
8-1 , 8-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
OPSU OK Panhandle State 14 0 14 7 35
OUAZ OUAZ 21 7 10 14 52

Game Recap: Football |

No. 15 Spirit Clinch Second Conference Title

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Knowing a win would clinch the program's second Sooner Athletic Conference championship as they entered the game on Saturday. The 15th-ranked OUAZ football team overcame various emotions to secure a 52-35 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State at Spirit Field.

OUAZ (8-1, 8-1 SAC) started the night by celebrating a group of 33 seniors that included many that committed to the program before Spirit Field was even a reality. Then Panhandle State (4-7, 3-6) took a 7-0 lead on just three offensive snaps and forced the Spirit to punt on each of their first two possessions.

The next OPSU possession seemed to settle the emotions and turn the night back into a football game. The spark came from Xavier Alexander as he stepped in front of an Aggie receiver for an interception and returned it to the endzone for an OUAZ touchdown.

OPSU went back in front 14-7 with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter only to see the Spirit then score 24 consecutive points to open a 31-14 lead midway through the third quarter. The first of the scoring run saw Marcelous Chester-Riley go ten yards for his 12th rushing touchdown of the season.

From that point on, Shamar Moreland would provide the answer every time the Spirit needed it. He started by returning a punt 78 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first quarter. Then, as the offense struggled to get momentum and time running out in the half, Moreland took a screen pass 43 yards for another score.

As Panhandle continued to fight its way back into the game and cut the Spirit lead to 31-28 with 59 seconds to play in the third quarter, Moreland struck again with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

That seemed to ignite the Spirit as they followed with receiving touchdowns from Brandon McLaughlin and Jermaine Trotman Jr. on the next two offensive possessions to put the game away.

Moreland finished the night with 409 all-purpose yards – 14 shy of his program record set during the 2018 season – and three total touchdowns. Tonight is the second time he has returned both a kickoff and a punt for a score in the same game, and it gives him nine total return touchdowns in his career. Moreland rushed for 102 yards to surpass 100 yards in a game for the fourth time this season and third straight outing.

OUAZ gained 378 total yards with 21 first downs. Chester-Riley added 89 rushing yards to lead the Spirit to 202 rushing yards as a team.

Austin McCullough threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns while completing passes to eight different receivers. McLaughlin led the group with three grabs for 92 yards and that one score.

While holding the Aggies to 341 yards and 14 first downs, the Spirit gave up just 3 of 15 on third down. Isaiah Feaster led the Spirit with 11 tackles, with Brandon Tomerlin Jr. adding nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. David Jones Jr. had three pass breakups.

OUAZ – playing in just the program's fourth season – has won the Sooner crown twice in the past three seasons. The Spirit will be making its second appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series next Saturday. On Sunday, they will learn their opening-round opponent when the 16-team field is released on the NAIA Facebook page at 5 p.m. (Arizona). A selection show watch party will be held on Faith Arena, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version