The Ellis County Press: SAGU hosts Howard Payne in home opener

SAGU hosts Howard Payne in home opener
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Steve Patterson on 09/15/2011 12:47:00


WAXAHACHIE - The Southwestern Assembly of God University Lions hosted the Howard
Payne University Yellowjackets on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Midlothian’s Football
Stadium. The Lions struck first on a long touchdown run to go up 7-0. The
Yellowjackets were finally able to get close enough for a field goal to bring
the score 7-3.
Both teams traded multiple turnovers all game long. However, the most exciting
part of the game was the last three minutes of the fourth quarter. The Lions had
stopped the Yellowjackets on a 4 and 13 in what seemed to be a sure win and the
Lions needing only to run the clock out with a 14-9 lead.
The Lions were able to move the ball down near the Yellowjackets 30 yard line,
but in an instance, the ball was fumbled and the Yellowjackets picked it up and
ran it all the way back for the touchdown and taking a 1 point 15-14 lead after
missing the two-point conversion PAT.
Now the Lions had only 1:17 left to move nearly 60 yards and get within field
goal range to win the game. With QB Reid Golson (#10) at the helm, the Lions put
together their best drive of the game. Reid not only had some key runs on the
drive he also completed some quick strikes to Nic Morphew (#2) down the middle
of the field to keep the Lions moving.
After a big run up the middle near the eight yard line by Sean Haynes (#1),
Golson was able to beat the Yellowjackets defense to the corner and score the
Lions winning touchdown with 17 seconds left on the clock. The Lions won their
home opener 21-15. Local athletes also played well during the game for SAGU
which has 7 recruits from Ellis County (Red Oak and Waxahachie).
SAGU’s next home game will be on Saturday, Oct. 1 against Southern Nazarene
University (OK) and the remainder of their home games will likely be played at
Waxahachie’s Lumpkins Stadium as all renovations are expected to be completed
before Friday, Sept. 23. You can visit the SAGU website at
www.sagu.edu/athletics/football for additional games, times and locations.