Box Score The Wayland Baptist football team went out in style Saturday, taking a decisive win in the university's homecoming game and the team's final home contest this season, winning 58-37 over Southwestern Assemblies of God. The team was eager to put up a win in front of the largest home crowd since their first home game back in early September.
The matchup saw star running back
Kendall Roberson earn five touchdowns on the ground and one in the air for 262 total yards in a game in which the Pioneers would pile up a staggering 560 yards on offense.
The Pioneers (2-5) jumped started building their confidence early, jumping out to an early lead in the first quarter, scoring first on a seven-yard touchdown pass from
Anthony Campuzano to
Josh Amador just three minutes into the game. Wayland went for two but was stopped at the goal line, making it 6-0. The home team struck again less than 10 minutes later on a 66-yard pass from Campuzano to Roberson, who was back in uniform this week after sitting out last weekend with an injury.
Reid Layton capped off the drive with the extra point, putting the Pioneers up 13-0.
SAGU (2-5) struck back on a nine-yard pass by Reid Golson to Dylan Moore with just over six minutes left in the first quarter to put the Lions on the board and bring them within six. The Pioneers pushed their first quarter lead to 20-7 on another touchdown from Roberson, this time on the ground from two yards out. On fourth down and 10 on the previous play, backup quarterback
Luis Gonzalez came in to throw a 39-yard bomb to
Seth Eaton, setting up the opportunity for Roberson.
The Lions' capitalized on an interception thrown by Campuzano halfway through the second quarter, allowing Golson and Moore to team up for another touchdown, this time on a 10-yard pass. Kicker James Gish pulled the extra point left of the goalposts, allowing the Pioneers to maintain a seven-point lead.
Wayland received the ball at the SAGU 20 yard line with 45 seconds left in the half after the Lions were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, but was unable to punch it in for another touchdown. The Pioneers had to settle for a field goal, which Layton tacked on to the team's lead with one second remaining in the half, and Wayland headed to the locker room with a 23-13 lead.
The 2012 Wayland Athletic Hall of Honor inductees and the Harley Redin Coach's Award winner were introduced at halftime and this year's homecoming queen Aubrey Pedigo, who is also a member of the Flying Queens basketball team, was crowned. In addition, student Alphonse Balliette kicked a 25-yard field goal to win a $500 gift card from United grocery stores.
Wayland fans wouldn't get to feel comfortable for long, as SAGU would strike first in the third quarter. Gish split the uprights on a 37-yard field goal attempt less than five minutes into the half, bringing his team within seven points and making the score 23-16.
Roberson gave the Pioneers and their fans a thrill and bit of breathing room with another touchdown on a huge, 68-yard breakaway run. Layton, who was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points on the day, capped off the drive. SAGU wasn't to be pushed out the door easily, however, scoring on all three of their next possessions, including two field goals from Gish and a passing touchdown from Golson to Austin Martinez sandwiched in between. The Lions went for two and were successful, tying up the score 30-30.
On the ensuing kickoff, WBU's
Trent Schuett ran the ball 75 yards to the SAGU 24 before being pushed out of bounds. A personal foul gave the Pioneers even better field position at the Lions' 12-yard line. A four-yard catch by
Thomas Curry pulled the Pioneers even closer and Roberson rushed for eight yards on the next play for another score and Layton extra point.
Roberson scored two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, one on a 23-yard run and the other on a two-yard dash, both of which were topped off by extra points from a consistent Layton. The three consecutive touchdowns scored in less than 12 minutes gave the Pioneers a comfortable cushion, which was further padded by a one-yard run by backup quarterback
Braden Hudson at the 4:54 mark to make the score 58-30.
The Lions scored an impressive, last-ditch touchdown on an 82-yard pass play from Golson to Jeremy McDonald, but it was too little, too late for the visiting team. On the final drive of the game, SAGU marched from their own 16 to the Wayland 15-yard line, but were stalled on a sack by
Mathew Russell and three incomplete passes to end the contest.
Roberson led the team on the ground with 157 yards on 18 attempts, while Campuzano threw for 297 yards and completed 25 of his 48 attempted passes, including four interceptions.
Luis Gonzalez was a perfect 4-for-4 and racked up 110 yards. Roberson and
Chris Acosta both reeled in seven catches on the afternoon, good for 105 yards and 83 yards, respectively. Eaton and Amador also had three catches apiece, racking up 44 and 37 yards for the pair.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Pioneers were led by
David Hockenberry, who made five solo and one assisted tackle, and
Jon-Lucas Poe, who turned in four solo and four assisted stops.
Blair Magee had three solo and four assists, while
Adam Taylor contributed two solo and six assisted tackles, including a sack. Russell and
Cody Frye also brought SAGU's quarterback down for one sack apiece.
The Pioneers will hit the road next weekend to take on Bacone College (6-2) at 2 p.m. in Muskogee, Okla. The Warriors defeated Texas College 19-6 today in Tyler.
WBU Football vs SAGU Gallery
