In a high-scoring showdown at Wildcat Field on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Louisiana Christian University (1-4, 1-2) put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short in a 48-40 loss to Oklahoma Panhandle State (3-2, 3-1). The game saw a series of standout individual performances, led by running backs Daylon Charles and Taevion Cunningham, whose combined 291 rushing yards kept LCU within striking distance throughout the contest. Despite the offensive explosion, the Wildcats were unable to overcome several defensive lapses and costly turnovers.
A First Half for the Ages: Daylon Charles
Louisiana Christian struck first, capitalizing on a fast start led by Daylon Charles, who delivered a first-half performance that will go down in Wildcat history. Charles, running with purpose and power, shredded the OPSU defense for 120 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns, all before halftime. His ability to slice through the Aggie defense helped set the tone for an exciting first half.
On LCU’s first drive of the game, Charles quickly got to work, breaking off a 29-yard run before capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead. His presence in the backfield was felt immediately as he averaged an astounding 7.5 yards per carry in the first two quarters. Charles added touchdown runs of 4 and 10 yards, pushing LCU ahead multiple times in a back-and-forth first half. He ended the afternoon with 156 total yards from scrimmage, including 140 on the ground and 16 receiving.
“We asked Daylon to carry the load today, and he did that and more,” head coach Ben McLaughlin said after the game. “He ran hard, and he gave us the energy we needed to keep up with their fast-paced offense.”
Taevion Cunningham Breaks Free in the Second Half
While Charles was the star of the first half, Taevion Cunningham picked up the slack in the second. Cunningham tallied 151 rushing yards, most of which came after halftime, and provided two critical touchdowns that kept LCU within reach. His first score was a spectacular 59-yard burst in the second quarter, which gave the Wildcats a 31-27 lead. Cunningham showed tremendous vision and breakaway speed, earning a career-high 7.2 yards per carry.
Late in the fourth quarter, with LCU trailing 48-34 and time running out, Cunningham added a 2-yard touchdown to close the gap. Although his efforts weren’t enough to secure the win, Cunningham’s big-play ability was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating outcome for the Wildcats.
David Voorhies III and Pop McGhee Anchor the Defense
Despite the offensive firepower, LCU’s defense struggled to contain Oklahoma Panhandle State’s balanced attack. However, there were standout moments from David Voorhies III and Pop McGhee. Voorhies recorded two pass breakups and forced a fumble, showcasing his versatility and knack for making timely plays. His forced fumble led to a recovery by McGhee, who has now extended his streak of games with a pass breakup to 16 straight contests.
McGhee’s heads-up play on the fumble recovery was the first of his career, adding another highlight to his storied tenure as a Wildcat. The defense also saw contributions from Jermarian Jackson, who notched five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and his first career half-sack, as well as Brody Page, who continued his emergence with four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
“We’ve got playmakers on defense, no question about it,” said McLaughlin. “David and Pop are leaders, and they made plays today, but we’ve got to do a better job as a unit to limit the big plays.”
OPSU’s Explosive Plays Prove the Difference
Oklahoma Panhandle State’s offense, led by quarterback Brandon Stephens and running back Jamarian George, made the most of their opportunities. Stephens threw for 155 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another score. However, it was George’s explosive plays that proved to be the deciding factor. He gashed the LCU defense for 162 yards on just six carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run that immediately answered LCU’s second-quarter score.
In the third quarter, with the Wildcats clinging to a 34-27 lead, George broke off a 57-yard touchdown run on a single play, once again shifting the momentum in OPSU’s favor. Combined with a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown by Draylon Roberson, these explosive plays were backbreaking for LCU’s defense, which otherwise showed resilience throughout the game.
Turnovers and Missed Opportunities Haunt the Wildcats
LCU’s offensive attack was as balanced as it’s been all season, with River Thompson completing 24-of-40 passes for 269 yards. Wide receiver EJ Scott continued his outstanding play, leading the receiving corps with eight catches for 104 yards. Trace Williams and Ethan Christman each added six catches for 59 yards, with Williams benefitting from a trick-play pass from Trent Ginn that went for 20 yards.
Despite the offensive production, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome three critical interceptions thrown by Thompson, each stalling promising drives. The second interception, late in the third quarter, came at a crucial moment when LCU was driving deep in OPSU territory. These turnovers, coupled with a few missed tackles on defense, gave the Aggies the extra opportunities they needed to take control.
Special Teams: Hilborn’s Steady Leg
One of the consistent bright spots for LCU this season has been kicker Levi Hilborn. Hilborn was perfect on the day, hitting both of his field goal attempts from 35 and 33 yards, and also recording touchbacks on three of his seven kickoffs. His reliability in the kicking game has been invaluable for the Wildcats, especially in a game where points were at a premium in the second half.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for LCU to take from this game. The Wildcats racked up 606 yards of total offense and showed that they can compete with any team in the SAC. With playmakers like Charles and Cunningham leading the way, the future looks bright for McLaughlin’s squad as they continue to build chemistry and improve week to week.
“We’re right there,” McLaughlin said. “This is a tough one to swallow, but I’m proud of our guys for fighting until the end. We’ll learn from this and get better. We’ve got North American University next week, and we’re going to be ready.”
The Wildcats will travel to Stafford, Texas, next Saturday for their non-conference finale against North American University, where they’ll look to get back in the win column.
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