It's back to work for the Wayland Baptist football team this week as the Pioneers – after relishing a win prior to last week's open date – head to Waxahachie to take on the Lions of Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff at Lumpkins Stadium is 2 p.m.
"Wins make weekends better, make open dates better…," WBU coach
Butch Henderson said in the wake of the Pioneers' 40-18 victory over Texas College that led into their second open date of the season. "There's a difference in enthusiasm, in how they work."
Henderson said the Pioneers (2-3, 1-2 Sooner Athletic Conference) concentrated more on the cerebral aspect of the game last week.
"We didn't do as much physical work as we did mental, trying to keep the rhythm that we had developed," the coach said.
Their win over Texas College ended a three-game slide for the Pioneers and was their first since a season-opening 35-13 victory over University of St. Mary (Kan.). This week, Wayland will be up against a Southwestern Assemblies of God team trying to find the win column for the first time this season.
While the Lions are winless in their five outings, most of their games have been close, including three outcomes by eight points or less: 27-26 to Austin College, 27-20 to Arizona Christian and 52-44 to Texas Wesleyan. Wayland and SAGU have played just one common opponent thus far, Arizona Christian, which defeated the Pioneers, 40-27.
"They're playing real hard and playing well, they just haven't made some plays at the end (of games) and couldn't pull it out," Henderson said of the Lions.
Like Wayland, part of SAGU's issue has been turnovers. For the season, the Lions have given the ball away a dozen times, although they've managed to take it away a dozen, while the Pioneers are minus-2 in turnover margin.
"Kind of like we did when we went out to Ottawa (five turnovers for WBU), that puts you behind," Henderson said, and then it's tough to recover.
Turnovers played a major factor in SAGU's most recent game, a 38-22 homecoming loss to Lyon, Ark., on Saturday. The contest, which was tied at 14 at the half, saw the Scots start five drives on SAGU's side of the field, two as a result of fumbles and one after an interception.
SAGU outgained Lyon (Wayland travels to Batesville, Ark., next week to meet the Scots) in total yards, 384-381, but the Lions struggled on third down, converting only 3-of-13.
Henderson said SAGU's offense presents an interesting challenge as the Lions routinely play three different quarterbacks. Freshman Landon Moon and sophomores Brylon Watson and Garry Powell, both from Midland, all have at least 33 pass attempts and combined for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.
"You have to prepare for all three of those quarterbacks," Henderson said, adding that they all have similar styles, "so that has made it easier."
The coach said SAGU doesn't appear to have a set rotation for its QBs. Instead, the one "with the hot hand" gets the nod.
The Lions hold a 5-2 lead in the all-time series with Wayland, including a 54-23 victory last year in Plainview. In that game – which featured 10 turnovers (six by Wayland) – the Pioneers jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but SAGU, ranked the equivalent of 31st in the NAIA after being No. 22 in the preseason, dominated the rest of the way.
By halftime the Lions – led by quarterback C.J. Collins who went on to become an undrafted free-agent signing by the Green Bay Packers – had gone on top 23-17. They kept it up in the second half with 31 more unanswered points to roll to their fifth win in the last six meetings against Wayland.
SAGU went on to finish the season with a 5-5 record, including 4-4 in the conference.
