It's no secret the Wayland Baptist Pioneers haven't exactly been lighting up the scoreboard lately. After averaging a respectable 17 points in their first four games, the Pioneers have been shut out in their last two outings and haven't scored in the last nine quarters.
Obviously, head coach
Butch Henderson knows that can't continue in order for Wayland to return to the win column, and he hopes the Pioneers can take steps to remedy the issue on Saturday afternoon in Sherman when Wayland (1-4) takes on the Austin College Kangaroos (1-5).
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. No local radio broadcast is planned, although the game will be streamed online. For more information, go to
www.wbuathletics.com, find the Football page, then click on “Watch Live” or “Live Stats.”
As each quarter passes and the Pioneers haven't put points on the board, Henderson said, “There's more pressure to try to get the ball into the end zone.”
Still, the coach isn't panicking.
“When you do that (panic), you tend to get out of rhythm and out of sync. What you have to do is play the way you know how and make plays,” Henderson said.
Besides, the Pioneer offense, while it hasn't been scoring much of late, has been able to move the ball somewhat consistently. For example, they found the red zone three times in last week's game against Langston, Okla., but just couldn't cross the goalline.
“Even though we didn't get it in, we moved the ball a lot better,” Henderson said. “The disappointing thing is we didn't take it all the way to the end zone when we had opportunities. Had we done that we would have stayed right there in the ballgame with them.
“We executed and had some big plays. We just have to convert that execution into points.”
While Wayland's offense looks to overcome obstacles, the Pioneer defense will face its own challenges against NCAA Division III Austin College. The Kangaroos run an option offense unlike any of Wayland's other opponents employ.
“It will be very different for us from a defensive standpoint,” Henderson said. “We have seen some spread option, but not really a (true) option offense like they run.”
That presents issues, he said, because it's difficult for players to get a solid grasp of an offense that's not very common.
“The kids aren't trained (to defend an option offense), and it's hard to get a picture of it,” Henderson said. “Everybody is learning new responsibilities.”
The coach said the Kangaroos rely on a running game and attempt to hold onto the ball for long periods.
“They try to sustain drives and keep (the opponent's offense) off the field by putting together drives of 11 or 12 plays,” he said. “They do a good job of checking things at line of scrimmage and making sure they run a good play. They try hard not to have a bad play. Their kids make adjustments well.”
The Kangaroos' rushing attack is led by Sean Sweeney, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior who averages 92 yards a game and 4.6 yards a carry.
“They use a lot of unbalanced lines to be able to get leverage on you and get the right guy the football,” Henderson said.
In charge of directing the Austin College offense is quarterback Noah Jesko, a 6-3, 192-pound sophomore who Henderson said is “not flashy, but gets the job done. He'll tuck it and take off. He keeps (the defense) honest.”
As a passer, Jesko has completed exactly half of his passes (31-of-62) for 348 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jesko has split time under center with Austin Rainer (14-of-39, 205 yards).
On the other side of the ball, Austin College's defense, much like its offense, is well-disciplined and strives not to make mistakes.
“They keep the football in front of them and force you to drive it,” Henderson said.
That makes it even more important on opposing offenses to produce points when they have a chance.
“You better do something with it while you have it or you may not see it again,” he said. “There's more pressure on you (each possession) to get points.”
NOTES: Austin College is a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference alongside Trinity University, Southwestern University, the University of Dallas, Colorado College and Centenary (La.)…Saturday is Senior Day for Austin College…Austin College is coming off a 27-13 loss to Rhodes College. The Kangaroos also have losses to #19 Birmingham-Southern (49-21), Sewanee-University of the South (31-10), East Texas Baptist (17-7) and Texas Lutheran (38-16). Their lone win came over Southwestern Assemblies of God (25-17) when AC scored nine points in the final 3:32. Wayland plays SAGU in its final home game for homecoming on Oct. 20.
