Fresh from having a week off that both healed wounds and renewed energy, the Wayland Baptist football team swings back into action Saturday afternoon in hopes of securing their first win of the season.
"We've regained some energy to play the last three" games of the season, Pioneer coach
Butch Henderson said in advance of his team's Central States Football League contest against Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. in Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium. The game can be heard on KKYN (106.9-FM), with links to live video, audio and stats available on
www.wbuathletics.com.
A tailgate party sponsored by Xcel Energy – featuring free food and drinks, while it lasts – will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot behind the home stands. On Plainview ISD/Plainview Christian Academy Appreciation Day, all PISD and PCA employees and their immediate families will be admitted free with proper ID. Also, all PISD and PCA students will be admitted free with a paying adult.
The Pioneers (0-7 overall, 0-3 CSFL) are going up against a Southwestern Assemblies of God team that provided the second of Wayland's two wins in its inaugural season a year ago. WBU started strong and ended strong in that homecoming triumph, outscoring the Lions 20-7 in the first quarter and 21-7 in the fourth.
As both teams compiled more than 500 yards of offense, Wayland's
Kendall Roberson piled up 157 yards rushing and 105 more receiving while scoring five touchdowns. The Pioneers threw for more than 400 yards.
Because Wayland won a year ago, when SAGU finished its season 4-6, Henderson knows the Lions will be hungry for revenge on Saturday. What's more, SAGU has been playing well of late, including last week's 42-35 homecoming win in Waxahachie over an Oklahoma-Panhandle State team that defeated Wayland, 62-21, three weeks prior. The Lions' other wins have been over Haskell University (Kan.), 19-8, and Oklahoma Baptist, 21-10. OBU defeated Wayland in the Pioneers' most recent contest two weeks ago, 37-10.
The Pioneers' open date following that game, a contest which Wayland hoped to win against the first-year Bison, was very much needed, Henderson said.
"It came at a really good time for us," the coach said. "We healed a bunch of little naggy injuries, and now the training room is not as full as it was a week ago. And because we cut back on workout times, that allowed the kids to rest a little more. We were getting a little battle-weary, but we have a lot more energy in what we are doing now."
Henderson said the Pioneers didn't make any drastic changes during their bye.
"Just tried to keep the rhythm and keep things sharp," he said.
The coach expects to see a run-oriented attack out of SAGU, more than any opponent the Pioneers have faced all season.
"They're the No. 1 rushing offense in the conference," Henderson said of the team averaging 185 yards on the ground per game. "They're going to run the ball and make you try to stop them. They'll line up in different formations and try to load you to one direction or the other, and then take their big offensive linemen and try to knock a hole through there."
That will be a challenge for a Wayland defense that ranks last in the CSFL overall and next-to-last in stopping the run, giving up 529 yards an outing including 192 yards on the ground. Henderson, though, feels the Pioneers will be up to the challenge.
"I can see our defensive front lining up and going toe-to-toe," the coach said. "(Tackles)
Reggie Pierce and
William Chiodo are playing well, and
Nathan Askins is getting well after being hobbled the last three weeks with a high ankle sprain."
While the Lions utilize as many as four tailbacks, their leading ground-gainer is quarterback Reid Golson. Often by way of option plays, the senior is getting 4.9 yards per rush and 76 yards rushing per game, second in the CSFL only to Pioneer
Kendall Roberson's 133-yard average. Meanwhile, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Golson leads the league in total offense, having passed for almost 900 yards and averaging 204 yards combined an outing.
Henderson said the Lions operate out of a two-tight end set for more than half their snaps, and often it will be an unbalanced line.
"They try to get leverage on you," he said.
While the Lions, who average a league-low 138 yards passing a game, don't throw it much, when they do they look to Dylan Moore, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior wide receiver who has 15 catches on the year and averages close to 14 yards per grab.
"They like to get him the football," Henderson said.
SAGU's passing numbers on offense don't stand out, but they do on defense as the Lions tout the top pass unit in the league, allowing 198 ypg.
Henderson said the Pioneers will continue with their usual plan of attack.
"We'll do whatever we need to do to try to move the football," he said.
SAGU is paced defensively by a pair of 6-foot, 215-pound inside linebackers in Kendal Evers and Jeremiah Maat, who average close to 8.0 tackles apiece.
"They play downhill and have good movement," Henderson said.
Six-foot-3, 300-pound noseguard Rodney Johnson Jr. anchors the Lions' defensive front.
"We'll have to deal with him," Henderson said.
With only three games left in their season, the Pioneers are hungrier than ever for a victory and know they have a good shot at it this week.
"We have got to get to where we're playing at the potential we're capable," Henderson said. "I think there's been a high level of frustration because we came in expecting to win. Frustration is not necessarily a bad thing, but we have to learn to convert that frustration into wins."
The coach said the Pioneers are certainly capable of beating SAGU, just as he said they were capable of beating several other teams on their schedule.
"We've played well enough at times. It's just a matter of making things happen to be able to go ahead and win one.
"We're close, and if we win one I think that will get the ball rolling for us and allow us to gain a little momentum."
