October 5, 2024
Langston, OK – The Nelson University Lions football team took to the road for a Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) showdown against the Langston University Lions in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second. Nelson's valiant comeback in the fourth quarter fell just short, as they dropped a hard-fought contest 35-29.
The game started with Langston striking first. At the 6:18 mark in the first quarter, Torrence Bardell capped off an 80-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, putting Langston up 7-0. A fumble recovery returned 58 yards for a touchdown by James Grace in the second quarter extended Langston's lead to 14-0 at halftime.
The third quarter saw Langston widen the gap as Kevin Allen hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Bardell, making it 21-0. Nelson responded immediately when Dakeevion Rose powered through Langston's defense for a 28-yard rushing touchdown. This jump-started the Lions' rally, cutting the deficit to 21-7.
In a wild fourth quarter, Nelson stormed back. Freshman Pierson Rougeau scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth, narrowing the score to 21-14. Just five minutes later, Marvin Sanders broke free for a 19-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 21-21 and setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Langston regained the lead with a Victor Boggs touchdown catch, but Nelson fought back once more. Pierson Rougeau's 50-yard touchdown run, followed by his own successful two-point conversion, gave Nelson its first lead of the game at 29-28 with just over a minute left.
However, in a stunning turn of events, Langston's Mikele Nash returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, stabbing Nelson's hopes and sealing the 35-29 win for Langston.
Next Up?
The Lions will return to Waxahachie, Texas, next Saturday, October 12, to face Wayland Baptist University in another crucial SAC matchup at Lumpkins Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:00 PM as Nelson looks to bounce back and defend their home turf.
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU
