September 28, 2024

Surprise, AZ – The Nelson University Lions football team took to the skies and landed in the heat of Arizona for a Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) matchup against Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ). Despite a promising start, the Lions were overpowered by the Spirit's relentless attack, falling 35-7 on a sweltering 105-degree evening at Spirit Field.
 

Lions Review
After a scoreless first quarter, OUAZ's offense came alive, putting up 14 points in quick succession during the second quarter. A 37-yard touchdown pass from Luke Giron to Da'Vicious Wilson opened the scoring, followed by another strike from Giron, this time a 41-yard bomb to Jaylen Magee. The Lions responded late in the half with Zach Fuller punching in a 1-yard touchdown run, capping off a gritty 9-play, 69-yard drive, bringing the score to 14-7.

The Spirit, however, took over the game in the second half. OUAZ's Dom Jennings was a force on the ground, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter to help put the game out of reach. Terry Warner also caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Giron, giving the Spirit a commanding 35-7 lead.

On offense, Nelson's quarterback Briley Green threw for 151 yards on 18 completions but couldn't find the end zone through the air. Fuller was a standout for the Lions, contributing on both the ground (14 yards) and in the air with 118 receiving yards on 10 catches. Marvin Sanders added 81 rushing yards, showcasing his speed with a 27-yard burst.

The Lions' defense battled, with Joseph Chavez leading the way with 14 total tackles. Xavier Garcia also had 10 tackles, while Quaveann Mitchell contributed 6 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Despite their efforts, the Spirit's high-octane offense was too much to contain.
 

Key Performers

• Passing: Briley Green – 151 yards, 18/34, 0 TDs, 1 INT
• Rushing: Marvin Sanders – 11 carries, 81 yards
• Receiving: Zach Fuller – 10 catches, 118 yards
• Defense: Joseph Chavez – 14 tackles, 1 forced fumble; Xavier Garcia – 10 tackles
   

Next Up
The Lions remain on the road as they head to Langston, Oklahoma, to face Langston University on Saturday, October 5, at 2:00 PM for another SAC showdown.

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