Box Score (This game was later forfeited by Langston.)
LANGSTON, Okla. – Eight turnovers and a stingy Langston defense denied the Wayland Baptist football team's bid to claim its first victory in Saturday's season finale as the Pioneers fell to the 24th-ranked Lions in a Central States Football League game, 33-0.
"We had some kids play hard, we just couldn't turn it into points," WBU coach Butch Henderson said.
It was the second time Wayland, which trailed 20-0 at halftime, was shut out this season. The Pioneers fell in their season-opener to Adams State (Colo.), 44-0.
"The defense played really well. They got after them," Henderson said. "And we moved the ball at times offensively. We just had some untimely things happen."
Penalties (the Pioneers were penalized nine times for 71 yards while Langston drew a dozen flags for 133 yards) wiped out a couple of big Wayland plays early in the game, and turnovers also took a toll. The Pioneers were hurt by four interceptions and four fumbles. WBU's defense managed to get three turnovers – two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Wayland was limited to just 28 yards on the ground on 32 carries, including eight sacks of WBU quarterbacks Payson Bain and Brenner Barnett for minus-26 yards. Kendall Roberson, the CSFL's leading rusher, had 13 carries for 32 yards. Bain and Barnett combined to complete 16-of-38 passes for 200 yards.
Josh Amador, Wayland's lone senior, finished with four catches for 106 yards.
"Josh had a big day," Henderson said, "and I thought our offensive line had a really good day."
Langston put up 369 total yards – 218 in the air and 151 on the ground.
"Our defensive front kept pressure on their quarterback and their running backs," Henderson said. "Jon-Lucas Poe had another big night with a lot of tackles and a lot of key plays."
Poe and Tyler Smith were credited with nine tackles each. Marcellus Henderson and Blair Magee notched interceptions, and William Chiodo recovered a fumble.
It was the sixth straight win for Langston (6-4, 5-0), which hopes to climb into to the top 20 and receive a bid into the 16-team NAIA Football National Championship playoffs.
Meanwhile, after a 72-year hiatus, Wayland ended its second season of competition 0-10 overall, 0-5 in the CSFL.
"I don't think I could ask this group to work any harder than they have. They fought all year long," Henderson said. "Now we have to go back to work and have a really good spring training and work on getting production out of it.
"This is a pretty tough bunch. They've weathered through a great big storm," Henderson added. "That ought to pay big dividends as we move into next year."
