Box Score Butch Henderson couldn't have scripted it any better.
From a high-octane offense to a big-play defense to a sensational kicking game, the Wayland Baptist Pioneers came out firing on all cylinders in their 2015 season-opener, leveling Southwestern College (Kan.) on Saturday night at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium, 42-5.
"All three phases of the ball were clicking," Henderson, the Pioneers' head coach, said. "We made some big things happen, and that's going to help us as we go down the line."
It was the most lopsided win since Wayland restarted football four years ago, and the 42 points were the second-most scored, behind only a 58-37 final against Southwestern Assemblies of God during the debut season.
"I thought the kids played really hard, which allowed us to make some things happen," Henderson said.
Wayland ended with 426 yards of total offense – including 317 yards passing and three touchdowns for
Payson Bain and a pair of TD catches for
Trey Rowe – while holding the Moundbuilders (0-1) to just 84, by far a school record, and only eight first downs, as well as recorded two safeties. The five points were the fewest-ever for a WBU opponent, eclipsing a 34-8 victory over Texas College last year.
Plus, sophomore kicker
Daniel Martinez booted four field goals, all 42 yards or better including a school-record 56-yarder.
"Defensively the kids were making big plays, the kicking game came up really big, and offensively we had three big touchdown throws and catches," Henderson said.
In other words, the coach was happy, happy, happy.
After waiting out an hour-long lightning delay, the game couldn't have started any better for the Pioneers, who took the opening drive and, on the eighth play of the season, scored with Bain connecting on a 33-yard pass to Rowe.
"It was nice to take that opening drive all the way down and go in and score," Henderson said.
The Moundbuilders recorded a safety and a field goal to make it 7-5 early in the second quarter, but it was all Wayland the rest of the game.
The fun started when junior cornerback
Josh Paul perfectly read a pass in the flat and returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.
"After Josh got that interception and ran it in, from then on we were able to bear down and stay after them," Henderson said. "That was big."
Bain again hooked up with Rowe, this time on a 36-yard TD strike for a 21-5 lead with 5:18 left before halftime.
Wayland's defense came up big again when Southwestern's punter mishandled a snap that resulted in a safety recorded by WBU sophomore
James Battley III.
Martinez's kicking clinic began with just under two minutes left before intermission as he powered through a 56-yard field goal, breaking the previous school record of 51 set by Jake Higgs in 2013.
Martinez hit again from 53 and 42 yards in the third quarter, boosting the Pioneer lead to 32-5.
Wayland's final touchdown came when Bain found
Josh Bailey in the corner of the endzone from 14 yards out, taking the score to 39-5 with 12:19 to go.
By then Southwestern's offense was non-existent as Wayland's stopper unit completely took control.
The final points came on yet another field goal by Martinez, this one from 43 yards out with just under five minutes remaining.
Henderson said he was a bit surprised that Wayland's defense overpowered Southwestern like it did.
"Being able to stop them like we did defensively, coming up with the number of three-and-outs we did, made a big difference. When you start playing like that defensively, you have a chance to have a good football team. You need the firepower to score offensively, but when you can do that defensively it's huge."
Wayland will get to enjoy its victory for two weeks since the Pioneers are off next week prior to their next game Sept. 12 against Howard Payne in Brownwood. WBU then plays Hardin-Simmons in Abilene on Sept. 19 before its next home game on Sept. 26 against Sul Ross State to kick off a three-game homestand.
"This (win) will allow us to make a big jump and improve," Henderson said. "It will help us understand what we're working toward and trying to get done.
"When you win it's easier to work hard."
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