September 27, 2025

Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lions football team returned to Lumpkins Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27, for a much-anticipated rivalry showdown against nationally ranked No. 22 Texas Wesleyan. The Lions fought with heart but came up short, dropping a 37–21 decision to the Rams.

Texas Wesleyan struck quickly, building a 10–0 lead off a field goal and a short touchdown drive after a Nelson turnover. The Lions answered with a flash of brilliance late in the first quarter when quarterback Judah Holtzclaw found his favorite target, Zach Fuller, on a 15-yard scoring strike to trim the deficit to 10–7.

But the Rams responded immediately with a 34-yard touchdown bomb to stretch the lead, then added two more scores before halftime. Nelson went into the break trailing 30–7.

The Lions refused to fold, and it was Fuller who kept them alive. The physical wideout put on a clinic, finishing with 8 receptions for 186 yards and all three Nelson touchdowns. His highlight came in the third quarter when he burned the Rams' secondary for a 62-yard touchdown catch, electrifying the Lumpkins crowd and pulling Nelson back within striking distance.

Fuller wasn't done, hauling in a 37-yard score in the fourth quarter to complete his hat trick. Despite his dominance, Texas Wesleyan's depth and defensive playmaking proved too much, sealing the game with a blocked punt return for a touchdown that shifted momentum for good.

By the Numbers
Holtzclaw battled through pressure, throwing for 325 yards and 3 TDs, though Texas Wesleyan's defense forced 4 interceptions. Running back Marvin Sanders paced the ground game with 23 yards, while Gregory Guidry added 5 catches for 81 yards. Defensively, Ronnie Murphy and Justin Collins led the charge, each tallying 5 stops.

Texas Wesleyan outgained Nelson on the ground (141–48), but the Lions edged the Rams through the air (325–190). In the end, turnovers and special teams swings made the difference.

Looking Ahead
With the loss, Nelson falls to 1–3 overall and 1–1 in SAC play, while Texas Wesleyan improves to 2–2. The Lions will regroup for their next contest Oct. 11 (Sat) – 2:00 PM at Oklahoma Panhandle State University

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.