November 9, 2024

Waxahachie, TX – On a bright Saturday afternoon at Lumpkins Stadium, the Nelson University Lions celebrated Senior Day with a memorable victory over the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies in a Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) matchup. The Lions' final home game of the season was marked by emotional pre-game festivities honoring their senior stalwarts: Dakeevion Rose, Kolby Tanner, Joseph Chavez, Dylon Kaufman, Luis Castillo, Riggin Baskett, Bodie Rowe, Daniel Garza, Hunter Griffin, Jaime Palafox, Quavean Mitchell, and Shawntay Owens.

The Lions' energy from the pre-game ceremony seamlessly transitioned into their performance on the field. Nelson wasted no time, striking early in the first quarter when senior running back Dakeevion Rose charged down the field for a 54-yard touchdown run, setting the tone for the day. Ryan Lewis added the extra point, giving Nelson an early 7-0 lead. The momentum continued as Marvin Sanders capped off a six-play, 52-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to close the first quarter, pushing the Lions to a 14-0 lead.

The second quarter brought a defensive showcase, with neither team adding points to the scoreboard, maintaining Nelson's 14-point advantage at halftime.

The third quarter saw a spark from the Aggies, as Draylon Roberso connected with Brandon Stephen for a 20-yard touchdown pass, closing the gap to 14-7. However, Nelson responded with a disciplined 13-play, 63-yard drive, culminating in Ryan Lewis' 24-yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-7. The Aggies retaliated with a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown by Draylon Roberso, keeping the game within reach at 17-14.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions demonstrated resilience. Senior Dakeevion Rose found the end zone again with a 2-yard touchdown run after a grueling 12-play, 66-yard drive. The pivotal moment came when Xavier Garcia capitalized on an Aggies' fumble, scooping it up and running 8 yards for a defensive touchdown. The roar of the crowd echoed throughout Lumpkins Stadium as Nelson surged ahead 31-14. Despite a late 43-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Stephen to Teandre Newcomb, sealing the score at 31-21, Nelson held strong to secure the win.

The Lions' offensive performance was spearheaded by Dakeevion Rose, who rushed for 188 yards on 30 carries and scored two crucial touchdowns. Marvin Sanders complimented him with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own. Quarterback Briley Green smoothly managed the game with 183 passing yards on 16 completions. Dakota Holtzclaw was a reliable and tall target, securing 4 receptions for 77 yards.

Defensively, Quaveann Mitchell led with 7 total tackles, including an impressive 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Amin White and Xavier Garcia both recorded 6 tackles, with White also adding a key interception.

The victory lifted the Lions' season record to 4-5 overall and 3-5 in conference play, positioning them for their upcoming season finale.
 

Next Up?
The Nelson University Lions will hit the road for their final game of the season, facing Texas College in Tyler, TX, on Saturday, November 16, at 2:00 PM.

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.