8 local products to suit up for SAGU football in program’s third Victory Bowl appearance

KBEC Sports report

For the third time in program history, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University football team will appear in the NCCAA Victory Bowl. 

There will also be eight student-athletes from seven Ellis County high school programs taking the field for the Lions Saturday at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie. The coveted bowl game will pit (8-3) SAGU against the (6-5) Sterling College Warriors for a noon kickoff. 

SAGU clinched its bowl berth with an upset road win against No. 25 Langston this past Saturday. The 41-24 victory was fueled by 519 yards of total offense, which accounted for a new season-high. 

“I am proud for the players and coaches in the UNCOMMN,” said SAGU head football coach Ryan Smith following the win. The victory improved the Lions to 8-3 overall and 6-3 in Sooner Athletic Conference play. “We talked all week about believing and not allowing any external circumstances impact our internal belief. I am proud of the grit we demonstrated against a really talented Langston team.”

Saturday will mark the third Victory Bowl appearance for SAGU and the first for Sterling.

The Lions previously defeated the University of Northwestern 10-7 in the 2015 Victory Bowl and fell to Campbellsville 41-28 in 2017. 

The local student-athletes suiting up for the Lions includes: 

• Keshawn Anderson (soph, Waxahachie via Culver Stockton University, WR)

• Briley Green (freshman, Midlothian Heritage, QB)

• Carter Lincoln (freshman, Red Oak, DB)

• Avery Garcia (junior, Ovilla Christian, RB)

• Joseph Chavez (freshman, Waxahachie, DL)

• Aaron Corbett (freshman, Palmer, LS)

• Dyllan Santos (freshman, Ennis, WR)

• Nate Dean (freshman, Midlothian, WR)

According to an NCCAA release, all Victory Bowl-bound student-athletes and coaches recently participated in a Christian Service Project and served the local community at Lakeview Camp and Retreat Center in Waxahachie. 

The group spent time cleaning up the cabins, the dining hall and the tabernacle chairs, as well as laid mulch throughout the center. 

“Each year, thousands of children and young adults come to Lakeview Camp and Retreat Center to experience Christ in a unique and intentional way,” the release noted. “The motto of Lakeview is “Camp Changes…,” meaning camp changes lives with an opportunity to change the world.”

To watch the bowl game online, visit www.nccaanetwork.com/. Tickets can be purchased at www.sagu.edu/landing-pages/athletic-ticketing.