When the Wayland Baptist Pioneers pulled out of Goodwell, Okla., last Nov. 3, having suffered a season-ending 67-14 loss to Oklahoma Panhandle State University, they were, in a word, frustrated.
"That was one of the most frustrating games we've played," WBU coach
Butch Henderson recalled of the game that saw Wayland throw five interceptions and gain just 138 total yards. "We never could get in sync. They physically came after us."
Since then, Henderson and the Pioneers have experienced a couple of more contenders for their most frustrating game, including last week's 36-29 loss to Texas College on a 53-yard touchdown pass in the final 15 seconds. Still, last year's finale against OPSU continues to haunt Henderson, who is determined not to let the same thing happen again when the teams meet at 2 p.m. Saturday at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium.
"We've got to be able to physically go after them," the coach said, adding that he feels sure that the Pioneers (0-4) can and will do that against the Aggies (1-4). "We've responded physically all year. Now if we can just put that together with making the most of our opportunities, I think we'll come out of there real well."
Tickets to the game are $10 for adults and $5 for students, available at the gate. Vista Bank will provide free hot dogs at a tailgate party in the stadium's west parking lot prior to the contest, which can be heard locally on KKYN (106.9-FM). Live streaming and stats are available through
www.wbuathletics.com.
While the Pioneers are searching for their first win of the season, the Aggies are trying to end a three-game slide. After opening their season with a 75-0 loss to Lamar University, OPSU posted its lone win over Sterling, Kan., 35-13. Since then, the Aggies have bowed to Adams State, Colo., 26-10; the University of Montana, 47-14; and most recently to McMurry University in Abilene, 53-27. (Wayland fell to Adams State in its season-opener, 44-0.)
Henderson said the Aggies have played a couple of NCAA Division I opponents in Lamar and Montana, where they played in front of almost 26,000 people.
"Those games have hurt their stats, but they've played well, I think," he said.
Because of geography and scheduling concerns, OPSU competes as an independent within NCAA Division II and as an alliance member with Wayland in the Central States Football League. That means the Aggies are not eligible for the conference championship or, of course, NAIA post-season play.
Besides Wayland, OPSU also defeated Texas College last season, 30-9, while losing to the other CSFL teams, Langston (27-20), Southwestern Assemblies of God (28-27 in OT) and Bacone (40-7). The Aggies were 4-6 in 2012 and this season brought back seven offensive and two defensive starters.
OPSU is led on offense by sophomore running back Chris McClendon (5-10, 232), who averages 100 yards per game rushing and receiving combined. On the ground, Holbrook gets 70 yards an outing while he's caught 14 passes for a 30-yards-per-game average.
"He's really good," Henderson said of McClendon. "They find ways to get him the football."
In charge of doing that is returning starting quarterback Caleb Holbrook (6-3, 225). This season, the junior is averaging 145 yards passing per game with three touchdowns and six interceptions.
When the Aggies get the ball close to the goal line, look for redshirt freshman Kameron Young (6-1, 258) to get the ball. He only has nine carries on the year but has scored five short-yardage TDs, including three last week.
On defense, Henderson said OPSU has several returners "who are really good football players," including junior Dominique Guest (6-0, 200) and senior Keidrick Brewster (5-9, 188) in the backfield. The WBU coach also praised two sophomores, end Glenn Bonner (6-3, 239) and linebacker Tanner Hallford (6-1, 216) of Dumas.
"Those two guys make a lot of tackles," Henderson said.
Despite a pair of hard-to-swallow losses the last two weeks, the Pioneers continue to work hard and remain confident that brighter days are right around the corner.
"They've jumped right back in and gone full bore, believing good things are going to happen and they're going to make those things happen," Henderson said of his team. "We feel we still have a chance to get a piece of the conference championship. We just have to get to the point where when opportunities arise that we take advantage of those. As we learn to take care of those, we'll be able to go ahead and win.
"It's sure not a matter of effort. The kids are working hard. Technically and athletically, we're a lot better than we've ever been."
But it all starts with getting that first taste of victory.
"That would make everything so much better," Henderson said. "We're at that point where we're playing well, but we need to win."
NOTES: OPSU is coached for the second season by Russell Gaskamp, who played center on the University of Texas offensive line that paved the way for Ricky Williams to win the Heisman Trophy in 1998…Wayland is in the midst of a three-game home stand while OPSU is winding up a three-game road swing…
