Box Score BATESVILLE, Ark. – Wayland Baptist wrapped up its season by securing its fourth win, rolling over Lyon College in a Central States Football League game on Saturday afternoon at Pioneers Stadium here, 51-30.
"It just felt good to win," Wayland coach
Butch Henderson said. "That'll make the 11-hour drive home much shorter."
The Pioneers (4-6, 2-4 CSFL) intercepted five passes – including a pick-six by
Grant Savage – and
Richard Parham II recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown, while on offense
Payson Bain threw for three TDs and
Michael Romero rushed for 161 yards and another score.
"We came emotionally ready to play, which comes from those 16 seniors," Henderson said. "The emotional level they brought us to the field with really got us going. They got after it."
The 51 points are the second-most scored by the Pioneers since Wayland restarted the football program four seasons ago, behind only a 58-37 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University in 2012.
Wayland scored on its opening possession – on a 13-yard pass from Bain to
Chris Acosta – then after the teams traded punts
James Battley III blocked the punt that Parham recovered for a 14-0 lead.
"I think that set a tempo for us the whole ballgame," Henderson said of the fast start.
Lyon (0-10) got its lone first-half points on a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown, but Wayland responded with a 35-yard field goal by
Daniel Martinez and a 12-yard scoring run by Romero for a 24-7 halftime lead.
The Scots started the second-half scoring after an interception at the WBU 23-yard line, but the Pioneer defense held its ground and gave up only a field goal.
Wayland's offense then struck for back-to-back TDs on passes from Bain, a 67-yarder to
Trey Rowe followed by a fourth-down pass from the 1 to
Brenner Barnett that made it 37-10 late in the third.
Lyon scored its first offensive touchdown of the day three minutes into the fourth quarter, then back-up quarterback
Austin Sheridan hooked up with
Leslie Scarlett for a 57-yard scoring strike and a 44-17 lead.
Savage's 52-yard pick-six came in between Scots touchdowns to finish the scoring.
"We got to play lots of players that fourth quarter," Henderson said.
The coach pointed to the Pioneer defense, which once again was led by linebackers
Alden Mann (14 tackles) and
Ernesto Monreal (13 tackles) as well as Parham who had two of Wayland's five picks.
"Those five interceptions really killed drives," Henderson said. "We played extremely well defensively, like we have been."
Fueled by Romero's 161, the Pioneers rushed for 217 yards.
"The offensive line did a great job," Henderson said. "(The rushing success) let us control a lot of things and opened up some throwing lanes."
The coach said the win over the Scots, in their first season, will help get the Pioneers through to next season.
"It really helps you to finish like that. It not only makes a long ride home a little bit shorter, but it lets you have a lot better feeling in the off-season about what you're doing."
Henderson further praised his 16 seniors.
"That senior group has done a great job of establishing the foundation for us. It's good to see them finish with a win."
