It's 'all brand new' as Pioneers dive into CSFL schedule

This, Butch Henderson said, is the time the Wayland Baptist Pioneer football team has been waiting for.

"This is what we've sold the kids on," Henderson, the Pioneers' head coach, said of the start of Central States Football League play. "We've waited for this time of year to come.

"Now it's all brand new."

CSFL play gets under way for Wayland at 2 p.m. Saturday when the Pioneers (2-2) host the Arizona Christian Firestorm (0-3) for its homecoming game at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium. Live video and audio streaming will be available on www.wbuathletics.com, with radio coverage on 1090-AM in Plainview and 1590-AM in Lubbock.

A tailgate party featuring free food and drinks will be hosted by Centennial Bank. The party, beginning around 12:45 p.m., will take place in the west parking lot of the stadium. Fans are invited to join the WBU cheerleaders and band at the tailgate, where Pioneer players will walk through on their way to the field for warm-ups, beginning at 1 p.m.

Also, a car caravan will begin gathering in front of the Laney Center on campus at noon. Free food, giveaways, and decorations for cars will be available. The caravan will proceed to the stadium around 12:30.

As the Pioneers attempt to bounce back from back-to-back losses following a pair of season-opening wins, Henderson said this is when the Pioneers must begin working toward a conference title.

"Now is when we have to start making that run at a conference championship, especially those 17 kids that have been here the whole time (since the program began five years ago). That has been the hope that they've had," Henderson said.

The coach said those 17 student-athletes have been instrumental in inspiring the entire team, especially following the most recent defeat.

"That older group has gotten us on track, pressing all of our young kids," he said. "They've been very clear about their desire to go win a conference championship."

Part of that inspiration has occurred in practice as the Pioneers have worked toward getting games off to a better start.

"We stress during our practices for us to start well and also finish well. For us the start has been the issue. We haven't done that the last two weeks. A lot of that is psychological. We have to get our minds right so we get that taken care of from here on out."

On the other hand, the Pioneers have finished well, especially in last week's 54-46 loss to Sul Ross State.

"We were able to get back in it after getting down. I was real proud of them for coming back like they did and really getting after it," Henderson said of the game in which the Pioneers fell behind 41-10 before making a valiant comeback.

Ideally, Wayland won't be in that situation again, at least not to that degree, and Henderson feels that will be the case.

"If we'll come out and make plays, we'll be all right with anybody we play," he said.

Going into conference play, the coach said it's anybody's game.

"Just looking at records, Langston (2-2) is probably the top team, followed by Southwestern Assemblies of God (3-1)," Henderson said. "But realistically everybody is in it."

Like SAGU, Wayland also is 2-2, while the other four teams – Arizona Christian, Texas College, Bacone and league newcomer Lyon – still are searching for the win column.

Henderson said Arizona Christian hasn't played badly, just been up against solid competition, losing to No. 24 Webber International (Fla.), 48-24, Western New Mexico, 70-14, and George Fox University (Ore.), 45-27.

"They've played some tough people," Henderson said.

For Arizona Christian's inaugural season on the gridiron last year, Wayland traveled to Phoenix and, for the Pioneers' season-opener, played the Firestorm in its second-ever game, with Wayland winning, 28-21. It was WBU's first road win after 10 tries the last two years.

Arizona Christian picked up its first win the following week and went on to win once more (not counting an exhibition win) to finish its first season, 2-7.

With close to 125 players listed on their roster, Arizona Christian certainly has tremendous depth, and Henderson said the Firestorm have a good many upperclassmen due to bringing in junior college transfers.

"Even though the program is just in its second season, many of their players are experienced," he said.

Among the veterans, although just a sophomore, is quarterback Gerrit Groenewold, who is splitting time under center with another sophomore Ryan Esslinger. Both have about the same number of pass attempts and combined have thrown for more than 600 yards.

Henderson said Groenewold is particularly talented, posing a dual run-pass threat.

"He's their second-leading rusher (147 yards) and does a good job reading the defense," the coach said. "You have to defend his run as well as defend his pass."

Arizona Christian's top rusher, with 159 yards, is senior Phillipi "PJ" Sparks (5-8, 190).

As for the Firestorm defense, Henderson said they are always on the attack.

"They are very aggressive up front. They keep six guys in the box and try to force you to throw the ball out of there," he said.

That chore will fall on a pair of freshmen this week as normal starter Payson Bain has been ruled out as he completes concussion protocol. Taking over will be Mitchell Parsley and Austin Sheridan.

"Mitchell played real well last week. He made some good reads," Henderson said.

More than anything, the coach added, "We just have to go make plays."

He said the Pioneers actually made quite a few in last week's loss to Sul Ross State.

"We did a lot of good things, including our defense holding them to 3-of-16 on third down," Henderson said. "But the bad overshadowed a lot of that good."

The Pioneers can't let that happen again. Instead, they need to make impact plays, get back on the winning track, and begin building a head of steam.

"In order to win the conference championship," Henderson said, "you have to continue to win each week and build some positive momentum."