In his first collegiate start, Mitchell threw for 343 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for 20 yards to help the Pioneers to a 40-37 overtime victory over Howard Payne. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound sophomore from Crowell completed 18-of-33 passes (19.1 yards-per-completion average) to nine different receivers, connecting on touchdown throws of 62 yards to L'Waylon Derrick and 68 yards to Trey Rowe before finding Preston Woodard for an 11-yard score to win it in overtime. It marked the first overtime game since WBU restarted football in 2012. Coach Butch Henderson said Parsley made accurate deep throws ("He hit them in stride") to Derrick and Rowe and made a textbook toss to Woodard. "It's a timing throw. When Preston plants his foot, Mitchell is supposed to let it go, and he was right on time with it. He did a good job keeping it low and Preston did a good job digging it out."
The Pioneers (2-1) wind up a three-game home-stand at 2 p.m. Saturday against Webber International of Florida. The Warriors are tied for the No. 25 spot in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, having knocked off then-No. 9 St. Xavier (Ill.) on Saturday, 36-31.