October 12, 2025
Goodwell, OK — The Nelson University Lions football team hit the road to Goodwell, Oklahoma, for a Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) matchup against the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies on Saturday afternoon. Despite a determined effort, the Lions fell 34–13 in a contest that featured moments of big defensive stops and flashes of offensive rhythm.
The Aggies struck first with a first-quarter field goal and built a 17–0 halftime lead behind strong drives from quarterback Chance Guadiz and running back Rylan Johnson, who combined for three early scores. Nelson found its stride in the third quarter when quarterback Judah Holtzclaw connected with Zach Fuller on a 15-yard touchdown strike, capping an eight-play, 60-yard drive that cut the deficit to 20–7.
Defensively, the Lions kept fighting. Senior linebacker Ronnie Murphy led the charge with 13 total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Noah Coughran added a game-high 14 tackles from the middle of the defense. Dalton L'Esperance made one of the day's biggest plays by recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull the Lions within striking distance at 34–13.
Holtzclaw finished with 157 passing yards and one touchdown, spreading completions across six different receivers. Gregory Guidry paced the aerial attack with 74 yards on three receptions.
Though the Lions were outgained 339–245 in total offense, they showed resilience forcing a pair of turnovers and scoring in both halves. Nelson's special teams unit also held strong, with Cade Whitehead averaging 50 yards per kickoff and Chase Maxfield pinning multiple punts inside the 20.
With the loss, Nelson moves to 1–5 overall (0–4 SAC), while Oklahoma Panhandle State improves to 2–4 (1–2 SAC).
Next Up: The Lions travel south for another conference road test against Louisiana Christian University on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 6:00 PM in Pineville, LA.
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-NELSON.
