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OUAZ Athletics

Kris Ewens -- September 17, 2022
Richard Martinez
27
Winner OUAZ OUAZ 3-0 , 3-0
22
Texas Wesleyan TXWES 3-1 , 2-1
Winner
OUAZ OUAZ
3-0 , 3-0
27
Final
22
Texas Wesleyan TXWES
3-1 , 2-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
OUAZ OUAZ 0 17 7 3 27
TXWES Texas Wesleyan 10 3 6 3 22

Game Recap: Football |

Spirit Leave Texas with 27-22 Win

FORT WORTH, Texas – In the biggest game to this point of the season for No. 8 OUAZ, the Spirit found a way to escape Farrington Field with a 27-22 win over No. 18 Texas Wesleyan on Saturday night.

To overcome the 10-0 deficit they faced after the first quarter, OUAZ (3-0, 3-0 SAC) held Texas Wesleyan (3-1, 2-1) without an offensive touchdown and stopped the Rams on fourth and 10 on the final play of the game. This is the third one-score game in the four all-time meetings between the two teams.

Despite a first half that saw the Spirit commit two turnovers – including a pick-six – and have a field goal blocked, a Kristopher Ewens 4-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the half gave them a 17-13 lead entering halftime.

Texas Wesleyan forced a pair of OUAZ punts and turned them into field goals to go back in front 19-17 with 4:22 to play in the third quarter. Ewens then broke a 75-yard touchdown run – the second-longest run in program history – on the first play when trailing, and the Spirit never looked back.

Each team traded field goals, and with 6:55 to play, the Spirit lead was 27-22. OUAZ forced a punt and had possession with just over two minutes to play, but two sacks and a bad snap on a punt gave Texas Wesleyan the ball at the Spirit 22-yard line in the closing minutes.

After the Rams converted one first down, the Spirit defense forced a negative pass play, an incomplete pass, and a quarterback scramble to leave the Rams with one play from the 10-yard line. That play resulted in an incomplete pass as time expired.

While Texas Wesleyan finished with 390 yards of offense, the OUAZ defense held firm in the red zone and forced the Rams into five field goals and zero touchdowns. The Spirit defense also limited the Rams to 3 of 16 on third down and had three takeaways.

Ewens ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the win. His second career 200-yard rushing game is the third in program history. It was also the fourth time a player had at least three rushing touchdowns in team history.

The Spirit had 406 yards of offense, with 219 coming through the air and 187 on the ground. They were 5 of 15 on third down and scored touchdowns on two of their five trips to the red zone with another two field goals.

Isaiah Randalle passed for 213 yards and completed 13 of 25 passes. Devone Humphrey led the team with three catches for 72 yards.

Eric Holman made 10 tackles and forced a fumble to lead the defense. Brandon Tomerlin Jr. had seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and a sack for 15 yards of loss. Khalil Lewis and David Sow added one sack each.

OUAZ now returns home, where they host Louisiana Christian at Spirit Field on September 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at OUAZSpirit.com/tickets.
 
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