Texas Wesleyan football makes history vs. Texas College

Texas Wesleyan got out to a 27-0 lead before beating Texas College 36-7 on Saturday at Farrington Field.

It was the program’s first win in 77 years.

Wesleyan football began in 1934 (it had previously competed from 1902-1914 as Polytechnic College), but the school had to suspend the program in 1941 because of World War II.

After 75 years, Wesleyan brought back football, which started back up in 2017 as a member of the NAIA Central States Football League. Former Nolan Catholic coach Joe Prud’homme was announced to lead the Rams in February of 2016.

The Rams didn’t win any of the 11 games last season, but did pick up a tally in the win column following a forfeit by Wayland Baptist.

Against Texas College, Wesleyan (1-2) scored 54 seconds into the game on a 45-yard TD run by Jermarcus Jones, who finished with 135 yards and 3 TDs on just 15 carries.

Jones’ second TD put the Rams up 20-0 and his third was the final score of the game.

The Rams also scored on special teams with a 19-yard punt return for a TD by Chance Carroll for a 13-0 lead with 11:42 left in the first. Donovan Isom hit Collier Ricks for a 32-yard TD pass just before halftime.

Zalen Long added a safety in the third quarter.

The Rams picked up 19 first downs and gained 336 yards of total offense.

Wesleyan sacked Texas College six times and forced three fumbles and one interception.

Isom threw for 71 yards and Jordan Griffin was second in rushing with 49 yards. Carroll led the defense with 10 tackles. Matthew Shelby, Byron Tate and Diamond Williams recovered fumbles and Jaylen King picked off the TC pass. Dylan Pettway finished with six tackles and blocked a punt.

The Rams look for a second-straight win when they visit Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 22.

This story was originally published September 16, 2018 at 12:43 PM.