Texas College poses 'scary' challenge

Halloween may still be several days away, but Butch Henderson and the Wayland Baptist football team are bracing for a scare this weekend when they head to Tyler to take on the Texas College Steers.
 
The Pioneers have won five of six games this season – including four straight – as they enjoy their best season since the program was restarted five years ago. Texas College, meanwhile, still is searching for its first win after six outings. While on paper that may be a good sign for Wayland, Henderson knows any time a team is "supposed" to win a game like his Pioneers are over the Steers, it can be a bit unnerving.
 
"Those games scare you," he said.
 
In addition, Henderson said, the Steers have a number of other positive factors going their way for the Central States Football League contest.
 
"It's one thing if the team you're supposed to beat on paper doesn't have much talent, but Texas College does. They have so much speed and so many good, individual athletes. And because they have some good athletes, you know you have to go play well.
 
"They also play strong at home," Henderson added. "And this is their homecoming, so they'll have motivation to play."
 
On top of all that, the Steers will want to restore some pride after being humiliated in Phoenix last week by defending CSFL champion Arizona Christian, 57-7. Wayland (5-1, 2-0) and Arizona Christian (4-2, 3-0) both are unbeaten in the conference and, if both continue to take care of business, the Pioneers and Firestorm will square off for the league championship Nov. 5 in Phoenix.
 
That's an exciting prospect, but it won't materialize if the Pioneers don't take care of business against Texas College this week and Lyon College at home Oct. 29.
 
Kickoff on Saturday in Tyler is at 2 p.m. The broadcast can be heard locally on 1090-AM and online at www.network1sports.com/station/kvop.
 
Wayland and Texas College have split their four previous meetings, with the Steers winning the first two and the Pioneers the most recent pair. WBU prevailed last year in Plainview, 24-0, in what was the team's first shutout victory since the program was restarted in 2012. Quarterback Payson Bain threw for three touchdowns in the game, including strikes to Trey Rowe and Devonte Hayden.
 
While they were blown out by Arizona Christian, Texas College's other two conference games this season were close. They fell to Lyon College, 35-21, and to Bacone, 35-26. Wayland already has beaten those two teams, rallying to edge Bacone at home last week, 26-20, and topping Lyon in a non-conference match-up in Arkansas to open the season, 37-14.
 
Texas College's suffered three blowout losses to start the season, falling to NCAA Division II Lane College (Tenn.), 44-6, before bowing to a pair of NCAA Division IIIs in Louisiana College, 49-18, and McMurry, 63-6.
 
"They've been hurt by some mistakes, mostly turnovers and penalties," Henderson said.
 
Wayland's coach said the Steers are difficult to prepare for because they line up in a variety of offensive formations.
 
"They operate out of multiple sets, but they're most dangerous out of the spread," he said. "They try to get those good athletes out in space and let them do their thing."
 
Texas College has had the most success throwing the ball, passing for 1,097 yards versus 569 yards rushing.
 
"They run the ball fairly well, but they've been really moving it by throwing it," Henderson said.
 
The Steers boast two of the top three receivers in the conference in 6-foot, 210-pound Curtez Griffin and 5-8, 175-pound Phillip Callier. Griffin has 28 catches for 331 yards while Callier has caught 25 passes for 199 yards.
 
Henderson said Texas College employs two quarterbacks. Sean Stell has thrown for 774 yards, completing 72-of-127 passes for four touchdowns and seven interceptions, while Santonio Mapp has passed for 323 yards, completing 34-of-73 tosses with no TDs and nine picks.
 
"Both quarterbacks are pretty mobile and both throw the ball well," Henderson said. "They're both athletes."
 
On defense, the Steers field two of the CSFL's top four tacklers. Middle linebacker Austin Long (5-9, 210) averages 8.8 stops per game while strong safety Kawann Parrish (6-0, 180) gets 7.8 stops an outing.
 
"Long is one of the top tacklers in the conference. He's all over the football field," Henderson said. "What we have to do is consistently move the ball against them and not stop ourselves with turnovers or penalties."
 
And, he added, Wayland must continue playing as a team against a team with tremendous athletes.
 
"We can't let their great individuals beat us."
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