SURPRISE, ARIZ. – The 25th-ranked OUAZ football team was searching for its fourth consecutive victory on Saturday, hosting first-year program Simpson University. While the Spirit worked their way to a 3-1 record entering the warm evening, the unit was hoping to put together a full 60-minute game they feel they had not achieved just yet.
OUAZ sped out of the gate, scoring a touchdown just 1:22 into the contest. The Spirit would score 35 points in the first quarter, 49 total in the first half, and put together a full, dominant performance en route to a 76-14 win.
Luke Giron threw three of his four touchdown passes in the first half, and finished with 363 passing yards without an interception. Giron also tossed his final TD of the evening on the first drive of the second half, and now has 14 total touchdowns in four games at Spirit Field.
In his season debut, Isaiah Dickerson scored a pair of touchdowns – one in the air and one on the ground. In all, eight different players scored a TD on offense, led by a pair of rushing scored from Jaylen Magee.
OUAZ finished with 674 yards of total offense, compared to Simpson's 201. The Spirit also picked up 40 first down with the ball in their hands, and only allowed the Red Hawks to convert seven first downs on either rushing or passing plays.
Arvell Ferguson had all three of the game's sacks, getting after the quarterback often and causing trouble all night long. In all, the Spirit defense totaled 13 tackles for loss, plus held Simpson QB Kaleb Anderson to just 65 yards passing.
The Spirit were making plays on the ball defensively, getting four interceptions and totaling six pass breakups. Isiah Cotton, Mateo Alicea, Tyler Faber and Maliki Campbell each had an interception, and Cotton scored on his pick with a 45-yard return for OUAZ's second touchdown of the third quarter.
Another road trip is upon the Spirit, who will cut through the middle of the country for a matchup with Arkansas Baptist on Saturday, Oct. 19.
