After taking on a pair of NCAA Division II programs the last two weekends, the Sul Ross State football team will host NAIA opponent Wayland Baptist University this weekend.

>> SERIES HISTORY:

Both teams first met in 1930 as Wayland Baptist won the contest, 25-8.

The Lobos didn't meet the Pioneers until 84 years later.

Sul Ross State linked up with Wayland Baptist for three straight games from 2014-2016 as the Lobos won all three of those meetings.

The Sept. 27, 2014 contest, which was the last time the Pioneers came down to Jackson Field, was a nail-biter as James Davis tallied 386 total yards of offense and three total touchdowns to lift the Lobos to a 27-24 victory.

Sul Ross State averaged 51 points in the next two meetings.

Quarterback Jordan Reyes highlighted the Sept. 26, 2015 contest by throwing for 446 yards and four touchdowns.

In the last meeting, the Lobos compiled 404 total yards of offense in a 48-27 victory in Plainview, Texas.

>> THE PIONEERS:

Wayland Baptist competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The Pioneers finished 2-8 overall last season.

Wayland Baptist's last winning season came in 2016 when the program went 7-3 overall. The Pioneers finished at .500 in 2018.

In Week 1, the Pioneers defeated North American University, 50-14. Wayland Baptist came away with 362 total yards of offense.

Quarterback Bryan Ponder highlighted the season opener with 253 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Last week, Wayland Baptist lost to Oklahoma Panhandle State, 33-17.

The Pioneers were held to 61 rushing yards and 186 yards of total offense
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So far, the offense has featured two quarterbacks with Ponder and Davian Guajardo.

Ponder is 22 of 38 with 327 yards and four touchdowns while Guajardo is 11 of 17 with one touchdown.

Jasiah Barron has led the receiving corps with 161 yards on four catches with one touchdown.

The running game has been highlighted by Sheldon Bass Jr. (10 carries for 46 yards and one touchdown) and Damon Ford who has 13 carries for 40 yards along with seven receptions for 58 yards and one score.

Defensively, Jadarian White leads the way with 16 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

The Pioneer defense has tallied four sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

>> THE LOBOS:

Quarterback Andrew Martinez now has 594 passing yards and six touchdowns on the season. Martinez leads the American Southwest Conference in passing yards and touchdowns.

Isaiah Pena has a team-high 147 receiving yards. Pena ranks fourth in the conference in receiving yards while teammate Vicente Luevano is sixth with 136 yards.

The Lobos have the third-best offense in the conference with 630 total yards. East Texas Baptist and McMurry are first and second, respectively.

Sul Ross State boasts the second-best passing offense in the conference.

Jade Rios continues to lead the defense with 27 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. He now has 172 career tackles.

Rios currently leads the conference in tackles while he's ranked eighth in NCAA Division III in total tackles. 

Jayden Floyd ranks fourth in the conference with three tackles for loss.

>> TICKET INFO:

General admission is $8 while admission for non-Sul Ross State students and seniors 60 and over is $5.

All Sul Ross State students, staff and faculty get in free with a valid school ID.

Children under four get in free.

No food or outside drinks will be allowed into Jackson Field. There will be a concession stand.

Tickets must be purchased online through this link: https://srlobos.com/sports/2021/8/27/hometown-tickets-page.aspx

>> STUDENT SPIRIT:

The Black Student Association wants to bring spirit days back during football season. The theme days are listed below:

• Hawaiian (Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Wayland Baptist)
• Neon (Saturday, Sept. 30 vs. Texas Lutheran)
• Think Pink (Saturday, Oct. 21 vs. Hardin-Simmons)
• Spirit Day (Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Howard Payne)

>> SCORES FROM AROUND THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE:

>> SATURDAY, SEPT. 9:

• Rhodes 19, Austin College 17
• McMurry 53, Millsaps 2
• Hardin-Simmons 28, UW-La Crosse 21
• Howard Payne 42, Southwestern Assemblies of God 10
• Trinity (Texas) 35, Mary Hardin-Baylor 16
• East Texas Baptist 38, Hendrix 37
• Texas Lutheran 39, Southwestern 7

GAME INFO
>> WHO: Wayland Baptist University (1-1) vs. Sul Ross State (0-2)
>> WHEN: 12 p.m. CST (Saturday, Sept. 16)
>> WHERE: Jackson Field | Alpine, Texas | 204 S Cockrell St.
>> LIVE STATS: https://srlobos.com/sidearmstats/football/summary 
>> LIVESTREAM: https://boxcast.tv/view/lobo-football-vs-wayland-baptist-university-btcfjp64zuackraqaq5g?_gl=1*fe3217*_ga*MzgxODIzOTkwLjE2NjExOTk2Nzc.*_ga_PXBBF7HVWQ*MTY5NDI5Njc0Ny4yOTUuMS4xNjk0Mjk3MjIyLjAuMC4w 
>> RADIO: (SRSU feed) KVLF 98.7 FM (bigbendradio.com)