OPSU Aggie Update

Aggies topped at No. 19 Langston, 35-14

LANGSTON, Okla. – In the annual “Battle of the Bell” game, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University football team was defeated by NAIA No. 19-ranked Langston University, 35-14, at W.E. Anderson Stadium. In what was also the Sooner Athletic Conference opener for both teams, the Aggies fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the SAC, while the Lions improved to 2-1, 1-0 in conference play.

With the win, LU now leads the series between the schools, 29-20. The Lions also retain the Bell for the third-straight season since its inception in 2017.

The teams battled back and forth early, as the first quarter ended with Langston leading, 7-0, on a score with 5:20 remaining in the period.

Panhandle took the ensuing kickoff and drove from its own 33 all the way to the Lions’ 13-yard line before the drive stalled. Seth Barbarino attempted to get the Aggies on the board with a 28-yard field goal, but the kick was wide left in the opening seconds of the second quarter.

Langston would add a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the stanza, giving the host team a 21-0 halftime lead.

On the first of the second half, Langston quarterback RaQuan Washington fumbled the football deep in his own end of the field. Panhandle State defensive back Ja’Quavion Daniels was on the spot to scoop up the loose ball and take it 13 yards for a “pick-up six” fumble return for a score. Luis Rivas’ extra point kick made it, 21-7 and sparked new life into the OPSU faithful.

But the Lions came right back to score on their ensuing drive to once again lead by three scores. The Aggies would go three-and-out on their next four possessions as Langston built a 35-7 cushion into the fourth quarter.

Panhandle State added a score with 4:27 left in the game. Running back Tony Brown capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive by carrying the ball across the goal line from the five. The PAT made it the 35-14 final.

Quarterback DJ Scott led the Aggie ground game with 55 yards on 22 carries. Scott also had 111 passing yards. He was 13-for-30 and was intercepted three times and sacked five times.

Barbarino had four catches for 45 yards. Jaishone Brown also had four grabs.

Defensively, Diamante Pounds had six tackles – all solo – to lead OPSU. Lee Alley, Tony Davis and Daniels all had four stops. Davis had an interception, as well.

Next up for the Aggies is a fourth-consecutive road game next Saturday at Texas College. Kickoff in Tyler, Texas is slated for 11 a.m.

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Dave Beyer

Aggies can’t hold off JBU; lose in five sets

GOODWELL, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s volleyball team had the No.2 team in the Sooner Athletic Conference – John Brown University – on the ropes, but was unable to finish off the visitors, falling by a 3-2 score at Anchor D Arena at Oscar Williams Field House. The Aggies (6-7, 3-3 SAC) won the first two sets by scores of 25-21, 25-20, before losing the last three to the Golden Eagles (10-3, 4-1 SAC), 22-25, 22-25, 8-15.

Panhandle bulldozed its way through set one, thanks to a great string of serves by freshman Sydnee Saunders. Tied at 8-8, Saunders slammed down a kill to put her team ahead and also assumed the serving duties. Saunders reeled off seven-consecutive winning points as OPSU bolted ahead, 15-8, and never looked back.

In set two, the match stayed within three points most of the way, with the Aggies leading 18-15 before another Golden Eagle rally got JBU to within one, 19-18. But sophomore libero Ashley Sanchez had three-straight winning serves and OPSU never trailed again in the set. In all, Sanchez had six point-scoring serves in the set.

In both sets three and four, the teams battled closely until mid-set, when the Golden Eagles created separation. By winning both sets, JBU forced the fifth and deciding set to 15 points. John Brown notched the first three points and led wire-to-wire in the set, 15-8.

Panhandle senior Kendra Butler led all attackers with 16 kills and boasted .303 hitting percentage. Butler also had a match-high eight blocks, including three solo, and four service aces, as well.

Saunders and teammate Hannah Murray each had identical double-doubles of 12 kills and 17 digs. Murray had four blocks and Saunders one.

Setter Keeley Johnston had her own double-double with a match-leading 40 assists and 13 digs. Johnston also registered five kills and three blocks.

Both squads utilized their front line defenses to lead the way. The Aggies had 14 total blocks and the Golden Eagles had 13.

The Aggies will be off until Friday (Sept. 27/7 p.m.), when they host Southwestern Assemblies of God University at Anchor D Arena.

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Dave Beyer