Pioneers look to 're-gather' against Texas College

The Wayland Baptist football team achieved its goal of getting off to a fast start by opening the season with back-to-back victories. Since then, though, things haven't gone the Pioneers' way. They've dropped their last three outings, including last week's Central States Football League opener.

Coach Butch Henderson and the Pioneers (2-3 overall, 0-1 CSFL) look to "re-gather" when they host the winless Texas College Steers (0-4, 0-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium.

"We've got to win," Henderson said matter-of-factly. "If we can do that and go into our bye week and heal up, and then come back and finish strong, we'll be OK."

The coach said everything the Pioneers hoped to accomplish before the season – chiefly winning a conference title – is still within the team's reach.

"We can still do what we came into do," he said. "This conference is going to have a lot of teams beating on each other. It just depends on who has a good day. I thought Arizona Christian had a good day against us.

"It's going to be a battle until the second week in November."

Saturday's game can be heard locally on locally on 1090-AM and in Lubbock on 1590-AM, with free streaming available through www.wbuathletics.com.

A tailgate party, co-hosted by WBU Athletics and West Texas Pit Masters, will offer free sausage wraps, while they last, beginning around 12:30 in the southeast corner of the home parking lot. Pioneer players will make their way through the tailgate area on their way to the field for warm-ups.

A car caravan will form in front of the Laney Center beginning at noon before making its way to the stadium around 12:45 Prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated vehicles (decorations provided.)

A big part of getting back on the winning track for Wayland this week will be cutting out turnovers. The Pioneers again were plagued in their 36-24 loss to Arizona Christian, giving it away twice through fumbles and twice through interceptions. That follows an eight-giveaway game the week before.

"We did some things really well last week. We had as many what we call explosive plays as they did," Henderson said in reviewing the Arizona Christian contest. "But we hurt ourselves again by having four turnovers to their two.

"We've got to be able to make plays at the opportune times during the game. For instance, when we went up by three (10-7), we had a drive going that fizzled out. If we would have scored there and gone up by 10, that makes a big difference in how the game comes out. Or on defense, a lot of times we were in position to make plays but didn't. We just have to finish out and make plays."

While Texas College still is searching for its first win, Henderson said the Steers are very capable.

"They're very talented and have some really good athletes. That's what makes them scary," Henderson said. "If you don't play good, sound football against good athletes, they will beat you with ability."

Texas College is looking to scrap a 21-game losing skid. The Steers' last win came over Wayland, 36-29, in the conference opener of the 2013 season in GSM Bulldog Stadium. Wayland won last year in Tyler, 34-8.

The Steers have struggled to put points on the board in 2015, scoring just four touchdowns all season. Texas College has lost to Mississippi College (61-6), East Texas Baptist (56-14), McMurry (40-0) and last week to Southwestern Assemblies of God in its CSFL debut (49-10).

Henderson said the Steers have employed three capable quarterbacks, with two of them serving as the team's leading rushers. Curtez Griffin leads the team on the ground with 163 yards, although he's been dropped behind the line of scrimmage for almost one-third of that. Griffin also is the Steers' top passer with 189 yards on 30 completions. Texas College QBs have thrown 10 interceptions.

"They are a quarterback-oriented offense that likes the zone-read," said Henderson, adding that the Steers try to take advantage of good size up front where they average close to 300 pounds per lineman.  

While they don't throw the ball often, Henderson complimented Phillip Callier, who has 11 catches on the season.

"When they do throw it the one they like to go to is Callier. He has good speed," Henderson said.

Leading Texas College on defense is freshman middle linebacker Jake Evans (5-9, 200), who has 22 tackles, behind only the team-high 40 of another freshman linebacker, Austin Long (5-9, 205).

"To me he's their leading player," Henderson said. "They also have a lot of good athletes in the secondary. They play a lot of man-to-man behind a six-man front."

Saturday's game will mark Texas College's first road game since its season-opener Sept. 5. Meanwhile, it marks the end of a three-game home stand for Wayland, which is open next week before traveling to Waxahachie for its next game against Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Oct. 24.

NOTES: WBU quarterback Payson Bain is expected back after missing last week's game with concussion symptoms.