Pioneers seek to keep it rolling vs. Wesleyan

With dramatic wins in their last two games, Butch Henderson believes his Wayland Baptist football team is beginning to find its groove.
 
"Our kids are building a culture of knowing they can go win," said Henderson, whose Pioneers after beating Lyon College in four overtimes rallied from 21 points down last week to prevail on the road against Texas College.
 
"Down that number of points and having to fight your way back into it, and then knowing you're going to win and having the ability to win is big for us," Henderson noted. "It was really fun to watch the kids. There wasn't any panic and we didn't change what we were doing, it finally broke loose.
 
"Coming out after halftime there was a little more intensity and the kids did a great job of riding the momentum and keeping it running."
 
The Pioneers (3-3, 2-3 Sooner Athletic Conference) hope to keep it going in the same direction Saturday when the Texas Wesleyan Rams (1-6, 1-4 SAC) visit Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
 
Free live streaming, featuring Dan Zeigler and Brad Miles, and live stats are available at www.wbuathletics.com. Locally, the game can be heard on KWLD (91.5 FM).
 
It's homecoming weekend at Wayland so there will be numerous activities surrounding Saturday's game, including the crowning of the Queen and King at halftime when the WBU Athletics Hall of Honor candidates will be introduced.
 
The game is sponsored by First Baptist Church-Plainview. Free food, while it lasts, will be available at a tailgate party on the south end of the home parking area.
 
A win Saturday for Wayland would balance out the Pioneers' three-game skid and give WBU a winning record prior to the final games against two Arizona opponents.
 
While the Pioneers are on an upswing, the Rams – who are in their second season of competition – are struggling having dropped four straight. Texas Wesleyan's lone win came in its third outing Sept. 15 at home against Texas College by a decisive 36-7 final.
 
The Rams' biggest issue would appear to be their defense, which has struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone. Wesleyan has given up between 36-55 points in all five of its losses.
 
"Defensively, they're big, but they're still learning the system," Henderson said.
 
The Rams' offense, meanwhile, seems to have things figured out.
 
Wesleyan has averaged 33.4 points its last five games and put up 46 in last week's six-point loss to Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
 
"Their offense is very strong and does a good job," Henderson said.
 
The Rams average 366 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the SAC. Wayland is seventh at 305 yards.
 
Henderson said Wesleyan's offense is built around a strong running game that features senior Desmond Nisby (6-1, 224), a transfer from Texas Tech. Nisby averages 4.9 yards a carry and has scored seven touchdowns.
 
"He can pick and find holes really well," Henderson said.
 
Quarterbacking the Rams is senior Donavan Isom. At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Isom is not like the shifty quarterbacks the Pioneers have faced in recent weeks.
 
"He doesn't have that mobility, but you're not going to get him down with an arm tackle," Henderson said. "He's very strong and throws the ball well."
 
Isom is completing 47 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,253 yards with eight TDs and five interceptions.
 
The Rams, Henderson said, "will be a good battle for our defense," which ranks first in the SAC (26^th in the NAIA) in total defense, allowing opponents an average of 337 yards.
 
Wayland would like to gain control of Saturday's game from the onset and not have to come from behind like the Pioneers did a week earlier.
 
"It's a lot easier to be the parade leaders," Henderson said. "We would sure like to do it that way. Our offense has to go put some points on the board. That would make it very nice."
 
The key, much like it was in Wayland's most recent wins, could be controlling the lines of scrimmage.
 
"Last week our offensive line really took over and got control. That was big for us," Henderson said. "It's the same thing for the defensive front. Those guys battled and started to put some heat on the quarterback and got a couple of sacks at key times.
 
"Our kids understand what we're doing. They've really matured and are playing very well."
 
Texas Wesleyan Results
9-1-18              Kansas Wesleyan       H         L, 7-42
9-8-18              A&M-Kingsville            A         L, 10-52
9-15-18            Texas College*            H         W, 36-7
9-22-18            Arizona Christian*       A          L, 29-36
10-6-18            Langston*                   H          L, 31-55
10-13-18          OK-Panhandle St.*     H          L, 25-49
10-20-18          SAGU*                        A          L, 46-53