Both Pioneers, Steers look to gain traction

As soon as the 2019 Wayland Baptist football schedule became official, it was obvious to Butch Henderson that there would be a gauntlet of sorts during games 2-4.
 
As of last Saturday, the gauntlet has been completed, and the Pioneers are looking ahead to more success the rest of the season.
 
"We knew coming into the season we would face the top end with (UT-Permian Basin) and then two of the top three picked teams in the conference (Arizona Christian and Ottawa-Arizona)," Henderson said. "We probably played as three tough opponents as there are. We battled and found out what we can do, and definitely found out what we can't do. (Those type games) help you sort that out."
 
Henderson and his coaches have used their team's three straight setbacks – especially last week's 80-21 loss to No. 23 OUAZ – as a life lesson.
 
"That's not something you want to happen. It was a long, 12½-13-hour drive back (from Arizona)."
 
But as in life, the coach said, sometimes "you don't understand (why) things happen. Like we told the young men, somewhere through our lives you're going to be knocked down. Your job is to find a way to get back up."

The Pioneers will look to do that at 2 p.m. Saturday when they host the Texas College Steers – a team also trying to shake off a three-game skid – at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium. Tickets, available at the gate, are $10 for adults and $5 for students (WBU students and employees admitted free with ID).

The Sooner Athletic Conference game, sponsored by Atmos Energy, is designated as Cancer Awareness, so fans are encouraged to wear pink. Free food, while it lasts, will be provided by Wayland in conjunction with Tombstone BBQ in the southeast corner of the stadium's home parking lot.

One lucky fan will have a chance to win a Jeep Wrangler, courtesy of Plainview Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Selected at random, one contestant at halftime of each of WBU's 2019 home games will attempt one throw with an NCAA standard-size football from 30 yards away. If the ball makes it into a 10-inch diameter target, they win the Wrangler.
 
As convincingly as Ottawa-Arizona defeated the Pioneers, Henderson said, "I don't think the score is an indication of the performance of the athletes or what they did. We played pretty well but just gave up some big plays."
 
Those big plays included five turnovers (including two fumbles returned for touchdowns), a blocked punt returned for a TD, and seven quarterback sacks.
 
"You can't give up seven turnovers or give up (24) first-quarter points and expect to fight your way back in there," Henderson said. "We were down (24-0) to a really good football team. That set the stage. When that happens it really makes you check your character."
 
The coach felt his players passed that test.
 
"The kids lined up and fought the rest of the way."
 
Much like Wayland (1-3, 0-2 SAC), Texas College comes to town this weekend looking for some success. In fact, the Steers (0-3, 0-2) are searching for their first win, having dropped their first three games – all at home – to Lane College, Tenn., 27-0, Lyon (Ark.), 32-17, and last week to Oklahoma-Panhandle State, 34-8.
 
Despite their results, Henderson said the Steers cannot be taken lightly.
 
"Texas College is a very gifted football team. They've struggled putting together sequences of plays, but there are times when they are as good as anybody, because they are very athletic."
 
Henderson said the Pioneers would like to do what Ottawa-Arizona did to them last week.
 
"We need to get on top of them early," he said, adding that if Wayland allows Texas College to have success early in the game and gain confidence, "they'll be tough to beat."
 
Since restarting its football program eight years ago, the Pioneers have realized their most success against Texas College. After falling the first two times they met, Wayland has won the last five battles (including one win that was later forfeited).
 
Last season in Tyler, the Pioneers rallied from a 21-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the Steers, 32-28. Wayland put up 25 points in a span of 13 minutes, led by quarterback Nick Quintero who threw three touchdown passes, including one to De'Sean Johnson who ran for 55 yards and caught four passes for 78 yards. Edgar Baeza closed the scoring with field goals of 40 and 42 yards.
 
The Pioneers were hoping to redshirt Quintero this season, but the junior was pressed into action after senior starter Mitchell Parsley was injured two weeks ago. Quintero is the likely starter again Saturday, according to the WBU depth chart.
 
Last season for the Steers against Wayland, running back Carlos Mosby (6-1, 230) ran 21 times for 98 yards.
 
"Mosby is a good running back. Any time he touches the football he can really go," Henderson said of the senior who has been bottled up so far this season with 92 rushing yards on 31 carries. "His stats are not that high (this season), but he can run."
 
The Steers show a pair of freshman quarterbacks on their two-deep, with Derrick Cooper (5-11, 180) getting most of the work. Cooper has completed 38 percent of his passes (28-of-74) for 389 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
 
Henderson called Cooper "a live wire. He throws the ball well, but we'd rather keep him in the pocket and make him throw because he runs very well."
 
The Steers boast a collection of "good receivers with speed," none better than junior slot receiver Dyamond Woods (5-9, 170). Woods has hauled in 10 passes for 170 yards in Texas College's three outings.
 
Texas College also possesses tremendous speed on defense, especially on the front line, Henderson said. The coach said the Steers use a variety of stunts, edge rushes and other techniques, "so we have to handle the speed they have up front."
 
While Texas College employs enviable depth on defense, the Steers' top tacklers are sophomore linebacker Edward McDonald (5-10, 215) with 32 tackles and four sacks, and sophomore tackle Montel Barree (6-2, 285) with 31 stops and 2½ sacks.
 
Of McDonald, Henderson said, "They push a lot of things back to him. He plays sideline to sideline."