FORT WORTH --- Wayland Baptist made a furious late push, but an early deficit proved too steep to overcome as the Pioneers dropped a 24–13 road decision to Texas Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at Crowley ISD Stadium, snapping the Pioneers six-game winning streak.
Despite trailing 21–0 midway through the third quarter, the Pioneers showed resilience on both sides of the ball, outscoring the Rams 13–3 the rest of the way and generating several long drives to stay within striking distance.
The game turned early when Texas Wesleyan struck with a 74-yard touchdown pass on a one-play drive late in the first quarter. Wayland moved the ball effectively on its opening possessions, but two missed field goals in the first half left the Pioneers empty-handed on promising drives.
Wayland entered halftime trailing just 7–0, but the missed opportunities loomed large.
The Rams capitalized after the break, adding two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the third quarter—a quarterback keeper from 11 yards out and another short scoring pass—to build a 21–0 advantage.
Instead of folding, Wayland responded with its best offensive series of the game.
On the ensuing drive,
Damon Ford broke free for a 49-yard sprint to flip the field. Two plays later, Ford powered in from eight yards out to put Wayland on the board and cap a 75-yard scoring drive. Ford's run brought the Pioneers back within 21–7 and energized the sideline.
Ford continued to be Wayland's biggest spark, finishing with 118 rushing yards on 14 carries, including three runs of 30 yards or more. As a team, the Pioneers rushed for 176 yards, outgaining the Rams on the ground.
After giving up the early deep ball, the Pioneer defense settled in and consistently slowed down the Rams.
Safety
Donovan Henry anchored the unit with 12 tackles, while Brennan Davis added 11 tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss.
Zion Omo Adesanya recorded another sack as the Pioneers finished with two on the day.
Wayland forced five Texas Wesleyan punts in the second half and allowed just one scoring drive after halftime—a 45-yard field goal with 4:36 to play.
Trailing 24–7 with under five minutes to play, Wayland mounted one final surge.
Quarterback
Khalon Davis directed a crisp 75-yard drive, completing passes of 10, 11, 7, and a key 31-yard strike to
Jamari Jackson to get the Pioneers inside the red zone. Moments later, Davis connected with
Marques Hall on a 7-yard touchdown with 1:44 remaining, cutting the deficit to 24–13.
Wayland attempted an onside kick, but the Rams recovered and ran out the clock.
Davis finished with 125 yards passing and one touchdown, with Hall catching five passes for 26 yards and a score.
Though the scoreboard didn't tilt in Wayland's favor, the Pioneers showed determination, outgaining Texas Wesleyan on the ground and creating numerous chances to climb back into the game. The defense delivered timely stops, and the offense found explosive plays that kept WBU competitive throughout the second half.
Missed early opportunities and a difficult third quarter ultimately made the difference, but Saturday's performance showed a team that continued to compete to the final whistle.
The Pioneers finish the 2025 season with a 6-3 overall record and 5-3 in SAC play, capping off one of the best seasons in program history.
