As thrilled as the Wayland Baptist football team is about having secured a second win during its inaugural season, don't think for a minute the Pioneers are satisfied…or close to being through.
In fact, the Pioneers are setting their sights on doubling their victory total by the time their season ends in two weeks, beginning with Saturday's 2 p.m. game against an impressive Bacone University team in Muskogee, Okla. No local radio broadcast or video streaming is planned, although audio streaming is available by going to the football page at
www.wbuathletics.com and clicking on “Listen Online.”
“We have a chance to go 4-6, and for our first year out that would be a strong finish,” Wayland coach
Butch Henderson said, pinning his hopes on a victory over Bacone followed by another in Oklahoma on Nov. 3 against Panhandle State.
Getting win No. 3 this weekend – and first road victory of the year – won't be easy against a fellow NAIA Bacone team that at 5-2 boasts the exact opposite win-loss record as the 2-5 Pioneers.
“They're playing really well right now,” Henderson said of the Warriors.
Wayland and Bacone have played three common opponents: Texas College, Langston, Okla., and Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Both the Pioneers and Warriors beat SAGU (Bacone 34-0; Wayland 58-37), both lost to Langston (Bacone 19-0; Wayland 40-0) and they split against Texas College (Bacone winning 19-6; Wayland losing 26-0).
The Warriors enter Saturday's game having won four straight games, not counting a 42-0 exhibition victory over start-up Cole College (Colo.). Including that game, Bacone has outscored its last five opponents 212-26, highlighted by a 77-13 victory over Haskell (Kan.).
Henderson said the Warriors are solid on both sides of the ball.
“They're very balanced in what they're doing offensively,” the coach said, pointing out Bacone has shown about a 60-40 run-to-pass ratio. “They run the ball very well and also are very effective throwing. They run multiple offenses and a combination of formations to try to get leverage.”
At the center of Bacone's offense is Tyler Thomas (5-11, 195), a junior running back who Henderson said is lightning fast.
“Our coaches feel like he may be the fastest player we've played this year,” Henderson said, adding that Bacone's offense is designed to get Thomas the ball in a variety of ways.
Thomas averages a team-best 71 yards rushing a game and 6.1 yards per carry. He also returns kickoffs and gets more than 40 yards per return.
“If we can keep him in front of us and not have to run him down we should be OK,” Henderson said of Thomas. “We did really well at that last week. (SAGU's) quarterback has scored on everybody from a distance out, and we didn't give him big runs.”
Under center for Bacone is junior Kyle Kuban (6-0, 205), who has completed 79-of-149 passes for 972 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. Kuban's top receivers are sophomore Sheriff Thomas (6-3, 200) and senior tight end Rashad Rich (6-3, 225), who have combined for almost half of Kuban's completions.
Bacone's chief strength, however, may be its defense, which ranks first in the NAIA against the pass as well as in total defense, allowing 233 yards a game.
“Their front seven is really good,” Henderson said.
The Warriors' top tacklers are linebackers Daniel Shield (6-2, 225) and Jercorey Quarterman (6-2, 200), who have 55 and 46 tackles, respectively, and a pair of interceptions apiece.
Henderson said the Pioneers are riding high after last week's 58-37 homecoming win over SAGU, in which he said the key to victory was controlling momentum swings. “When (SAGU) came back, we were able to answer that and regain the momentum. That sure made a big difference.”
The coach said a speech by WBU Vice President of Enrollment Dr. Claude Lusk at Friday night's pep rally helped get the team prepared last week.
“Dr. Lusk talked to the guys about this being our first (football) homecoming, and I think it really dawned on those kids that this is really something,” Henderson said. “It (the win) was really enjoyable for them and, I think, for everybody. It was really good to have something to yell about and get excited about.”
NOTES: Even if the Pioneers win their final two games, Henderson said Wayland will not qualify for the NAIA post-season, a tournament format consisting of conference champions and at-large invitees…Bacone defeated Oklahoma-Panhandle State, the team Wayland faces next Saturday to end its season, 40-7 on Oct. 13…At least two other NAIA schools, Point University (Ga.) and Bluefield (Virg.), also are in their debut seasons and still are looking for their first wins. Ave Marie University (Fla.) is in year No. 2 and has yet to win a game.
