Surprise, Ariz. – OUAZ celebrated Senior Night by setting multiple program records in a 69-7 victory over the Texas College Steers on Saturday evening at Spirit Field. The win improved the Spirit to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play while providing an unforgettable night for the Spirit seniors.
The night was filled with milestones as OUAZ established three program records during the victory. The Spirit set a new school mark with 12 consecutive quarters without allowing a point, went a perfect 10-for-10 in red-zone scoring opportunities, and broke the program record for rushing yards in a game with 378. The historic performance highlighted one of the most complete efforts in program history.
The Spirit gave their seniors plenty to celebrate, controlling the game from the opening kickoff and scoring touchdowns on each of their first four scoring drives. OUAZ built a commanding 45-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
Dyontae Navarrate opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run before Luke Giron added a five-yard rushing score later in the first quarter. The explosive second quarter featured two touchdown runs from Tay Wheat, a rushing touchdown by Kendric Smith, and a touchdown pass from Brody Osen to AJ Williams. Eric Cline capped the first-half scoring with a 39-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Spirit into the locker room with a 45-0 advantage.
OUAZ continued to pour on the points in the second half. Cline connected on a 38-yard field goal before Osen found JJ Kavanaugh for a touchdown pass to extend the lead. Bryant Jackson then added two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Spirit completed the 69-point outburst.
The rushing attack led the way offensively. Wheat rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries, producing the 13th-best individual rushing performance in program history. Jelani Guerrero added 75 rushing yards, Bryant Jackson rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns, Lawson Aviles contributed 49 yards on the ground, and Kendric Smith, Dyontae Navarrate, and Giron all added rushing scores.
Osen was efficient through the air, completing 12-of-16 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Giron completed 5-of-7 passes for 60 yards. AJ Williams led the receiving corps with 47 yards and a touchdown, Jeremiah Ballard added 38 receiving yards, and Wheat contributed 54 receiving yards out of the backfield.
While the offense grabbed the headlines, the defense continued its remarkable stretch of play. Masen Brubaker recorded an interception and returned it 21 yards, while Bryant Jackson recovered a fumble on a kickoff to set up another Spirit scoring opportunity. OUAZ finished with four sacks and 14 tackles for loss while extending its scoreless streak to a program-record 12 consecutive quarters before Texas College found the end zone late in the contest.
Cline also enjoyed a strong night on special teams, converting all nine extra-point attempts and both field-goal opportunities. His 15 points helped fuel one of the highest-scoring offensive performances in program history.
By the Numbers
- 378 rushing yards, a new OUAZ program record.
- 589 total offensive yards.
- 10-for-10 scoring in red-zone opportunities, a new program record.
- 12 consecutive quarters without allowing a point, the longest streak in program history.
- 69 points scored and nine total touchdowns.
- Four sacks and 14 tackles for loss by the Spirit defense.
- Tay Wheat rushed for 152 yards, the 13th-best single-game rushing performance in program history.
Up Next
The Spirit will step out of conference play next Saturday, Oct. 17, when they travel to Glendale for a non-conference showdown against Arizona Christian. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. as OUAZ looks to carry its momentum into another matchup with a familiar in-state opponent.
