Of course there's no such thing as a guaranteed win, but if there's been anything remotely resembling that for Wayland Baptist since the football program was restarted six years ago it's when the Pioneers have taken the field against Lyon College, Ark.
Since Lyon reinstituted its own football program in 2015, the Pioneers have never lost to the Scots in four meetings, save for last year's after-the-fact forfeit that followed Wayland prevailing on the scoreboard, 30-28.
However, as if last year's slim two-point on-field victory isn't proof enough, the perceived days of Wayland counting on chalking up a victory against Lyon College are most assuredly over. The Scots come to town Saturday already sporting a pair of wins under a new coaching regime, most recently an impressive 29-16 triumph over an Oklahoma Panhandle State team that held off the Pioneers a week earlier, 20-17.
Lyon (2-3, 1-2) also played the socks off Arizona Christian, ranked 22
nd in the NAIA, before ultimately falling to the Firestorm, 26-23 in overtime.
Combine all of that with a Wayland team licking its wounds after three tough losses to quality opponents, plus the fact the Pioneers (1-3, 0-3) are a bit more banged up than even they were before, and Saturday's game between teams that tied for fifth in the Sooner Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll figures to be a close one.
"They're playing really hard and playing very good defense," Wayland coach
Butch Henderson said of the Scots from Batesville, Ark.
Kickoff for the game – sponsored by VistaBank – is 2 p.m. at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and available at the gate. Like at all WBU athletics events, Wayland students, faculty and staff are admitted free with proper ID. Also, at all WBU home events, Plainview High School student-athletes are admitted free with proper ID and with the purchase of an accompanying adult ticket.
A tailgate party featuring free food, while it lasts, will be held in the south end of the home parking lot, close to the Pioneer Pals play area. Pioneer Pals is a fun kids club for ages 3-12 co-sponsored by Covenant Health Plainview. More information and sign-ups for Pioneer Pals will be available outside the play area.
Coverage of the game, including free streaming, is available at
www.wbuathletics.com. Dan Zeigler will provide play-by-play and Brad Miles color commentary on the video stream and locally on KWLD 91.5 FM.
Henderson came away very impressed with Lyon College and first-year coach Casey Creehan, a former defensive coach in the Canadian Football League, following its two-touchdown win last week over OPSU.
"They played really well against Panhandle State. They controlled the ball offensively and played really good defense," Henderson said. "They ate the clock and got points on offense, and on defense got (turnovers) and turned those into touchdowns."
Despite being outgained 339 yards to 118, Lyon was able to win, in part, by taking advantage of one OPSU interception and five fumbles. The Scots also used a bend-but-don't-break defensive strategy.
"Panhandle State moved the ball but when they got to the red zone Lyon stiffened," Henderson said. "It's hard to score on them when you get to the red zone."
Lyon's defense is led by middle linebacker Sam Taylor (6-0, 185). "They try to get him in position to make the stops. He's not real big, just fast," Henderson said. Taylor's 8.2 tackles-per-game average ranks fourth in the SAC, while as a team the Scots are sixth in the NAIA averaging 3.6 sacks per contest. Ten different players have logged sacks.
The Scots' defense ranks first in the SAC in number of points allowed at 27.8 ppg,
"Part of that is their offense," Henderson said. "They try to hold the ball and keep the ball away from you."
One way they do that is with what Henderson called Lyon's "secret weapon" in senior fullback Jared Puamau (5-9, 212). "They pound with him. Their fullback carries it enough that he keeps you honest."
Lyon averages 22.4 points a game, just ahead of Wayland's 21.0. The Pioneers and Scots are last in the SAC in total yards per game, both around 264.
Henderson said sophomore quarterback Spencer Childress (6-0, 200) is another key to Lyon's offense.
"He makes just enough plays for them," the coach said of Childress, who has completed exactly half of his passes (38-of-76) for 465 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Childress' favorite target is junior Emetrius Scott (5-7, 157), who has 26 catches for 412 yards and two scores.
Much like Lyon, Wayland's defense also has been playing solid football, something they did again last week in a 31-20 loss to now 13
th-ranked Langston.
"Langston has one of the top offenses in the country, and our defense played with them up and down the field," Henderson said. "A big part of that was (punter)
Caleb O'Connor and the punt team. They've done a great job keeping the other team backed up."
What the Pioneers must do, the coach added, is get their offense playing to the same level as the defense.
"We've played about as well as I've ever seen us play defensively. Now we have to get our offense in gear. We did some things last week very well, so we're starting to get into a rhythm. But we have to be able to make plays. We have to come up not only with the routine plays but also the big throws and the big catches."
Henderson said Wayland counted 15 plays against Langston "where we had guys open and we didn't get them the ball or had dropped balls. To have that and still be able to play that close with that team" is saying something.
Saturday's game marks the midway point of the season and precedes an open week for Wayland.
"The kids have done really well getting ready to play. Emotionally they've been geared to get after it," Henderson said. "We played extremely well defensively and we're getting better offensively. We just need to win one."
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