Pioneers overpower Scots in rout

Box Score One week before it faces off against No. 20 Arizona Christian for the Central States Football League championship, the Wayland Baptist football team continued rolling as the Pioneers trampled over Lyon College on Saturday afternoon, 52-14, at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium.

It was the most lopsided victory since the Pioneers restarted their program five years ago.

"I thought we really got after it well to start," WBU Coach Butch Henderson said.

The Pioneers (7-1, 4-0 CSFL), ranked the equivalent of 27th, didn't waste time establishing the run game early with running back De'Sean Johnson carrying most of the load. Johnson's runs led to a 25-yard Renato Dos Anjos field goal.

The first touchdown came on a 58-yard strike seven minutes into the game from quarterback Mitchell Parsley to Preston Woodard to give the Pioneers a 10-0 lead. It was Woodard's only reception of the game, but he made the most of it.

Along with early success on offense, an interception from Travis White, who leads the NAIA with eight interceptions on the season, gave the Pioneers the ball right back.Unfortunately, the next play from scrimmage was afumble from WBU's Jerrell Peterson that led to Scots' QB Dwane Robinson pass to Jonathan Hendrix for six.

From that point on, the Pioneers controlled the game.

Pioneer receiver Devonte Hayden only caught two passes, but he scored on both tosses from Parsley starting with a 54-yard grab with under two minutes left in the first quarter and a 64-yard reception in the beginning of the second. Hayden finished with 118 yards receiving.

Parlsey's third touchdown pass was a 30-yarder to Trey Rowe which gave the Pioneers a 31-7 lead going into halftime. Rowe finished the game with four receptions for 57 yards with one score.

"We came out very ferocious and we did the same thing to start the second half," Henderson said.

The second half mirrored the first and included a 46-yard Parsley touchdown run, a 50-yard scoring rim from Johnson, and a 21-yard pick six from defensive back Josh Paul.

Parsley ended the game completing 13-of-18 passes for 304 yards with four touchdowns. Johnson rushed for a game-high 169 yards and a touchdown.  

"Mitchell had a big day finding people and got the ball into the wide receivers' hands. We'll take that every week from him," Henderson said. "Devonte is starting to come on and we have Trey on the other side and that keeps you balanced."

WBU's defense, led by a 20-tackle performance from senior linebacker Alden Mann,  received major credit from Henderson as well.

"Defensively, that's what sets the tone," he said. "They get the ball back to the offense and give them more chances to score."

The Pioneers will head to Arizona next week to face the Firestorm (5-3, 4-0) at 9 p.m. (Central) at Shadow Mountain High School. ACU stumbled Saturday against Warner University, losing 38-28.

Henderson believes maintaining cohesiveness and rhythm will allow the Pioneers to play to the best of their ability.

"We need to do the same thing we've been doing," he said.