TYLER, Texas – Trailing by 21 points early in the third quarter, Wayland Baptist rallied all the way back to defeat Texas College in Sooner Athletic Conference play here Saturday night, 32-28.The Pioneers (3-3, 2-3 SAC) were down 21-7 at the half, then the Steers (0-5, 0-5) made it 28-7 just 2½ minutes into the third quarter.
But Wayland came storming from behind, scoring 25 points in a span of 13 minutes to win their second consecutive nail-biter. In its last game before an open date last week, Wayland defeated Lyon College (Ark.) 46-43 in four overtimes.
Wayland started its comeback when quarterback Nick Quintero threw his second touchdown of the game, this one a 7-yard toss to tight end Caleb O'Connor with 2:36 left in the third quarter, making it 28-13 after a bobbled snap on the PAT kick attempt.
Just six seconds into the fourth quarter, the Pioneers closed to within 28-19 when Jacoby Hunt scored on a one-run run.
Less than three minutes later it was 28-26 when Quintero found Noah Lujan on a 38-yard TD toss.
Then, with 9:23 left, Wayland went ahead for the first time in the game, 29-28, on a 40-yard field goal by Edgar Baeza.
Baeza booted another field goal, this one from 42 yards out, with 4:28 to go to make it a four-point game and finalize the scoring, 32-28.
WBU's first touchdown was a 42-yard pass from Quintero to De'Sean Johnson in the third quarter.
BOX SCORE
Texas College scored on three pass plays, from 15, 83 and 65 yards, and an 11-yard rush.
Quintero completed 15-of-35 passes for 259 yards with three TDs and an interception. Johnson made four catches for 78 yards, Lujan four for 73 yards and O'Connor three for 62, all with one TD each.
Both Johnson (20 carries) and Hunt (six carries) ended with 55 rushing yards.
Richard Parham and Jared Brown both picked off passes. Justin Wheeler and Caleb Buck led WBU with six tackles each, with Wheeler recording a sack and one tackle for loss and Buck making 3½ tackles for loss and forcing a fumble. Darrian Williams recorded five stops.
Wayland returns home next Saturday, Oct. 27 to host Texas Wesleyan during homecoming weekend. Kickoff from Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium is 2 p.m.
The Rams (1-6, 1-4), in their second season playing football, lost a barn-burner Saturday in Waxahachie, falling to Southwestern Assemblies of God University on the Lions' homecoming, 53-46. Wesleyan's lone victory came over Texas College on Sept. 15 in Fort Worth, 36-7.
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
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