Head coach
Butch Henderson got the fast start he was looking for and Wayland Baptist earned its first-ever football win over Oklahoma-Panhandle State as the Pioneers recorded a 35-14 homecoming victory Saturday afternoon at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium.
The Pioneers, who evened their overall record to 4-4 and Sooner Athletic Conference mark to 3-3, led 28-0 after an impressive first-half performance that saw
De'Sean Johnson run for two touchdowns,
Christian Vaughn run for one, and
Daniel Hurn catch a 60-yard bomb from
Mitchell Parsley on Wayland's fourth play from scrimmage.
"There's just something about the personality of this group. If we come out and do something good early it sets the tempo for them to keep going," Henderson said.
The Pioneers only scored once in the second half – on a 37-yard pass from Parsley to
Noah Lujan late in the third quarter – but it was more than enough considering Wayland's defensive performance that allowed only 54 yards rushing and OPSU to complete only 13-of-45 passes. Additionally, the Aggies (2-6, 2-4) converted only once on 20 third-down plays.
"We like that stat. That's super," Henderson said. "The defense really got after it and was able to keep doing it all the way through."
Junior lineman
Justin Wheeler turned in a spectacular effort, recording 10 tackles (7 solo) with six stops for loss and 3½ sacks.
Jaden Fanner added two sacks, and all told the Pioneers recorded eight sacks.
Parsley hit on a number of big pass plays and wound up throwing for 274 yards, averaging almost 23 yards per completion. Hurn caught four passes for 100 yards,
Brayln Kirby three for 59, and Lujan two for 51.
Johnson ran for 52 yards on 16 carries and Vaughn 47 yards on 11 attempts.
Derrick Campbell tacked on 28 yards while averaging 5½ yards a carry.
The win was Wayland's first in six match-ups with OPSU.
"This group beat SAGU in Waxahachie, which we had never done before, and now beating OPSU for the first time. Those are great accomplishments," Henderson said.
The Pioneers play their final road game against Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth at 2 p.m. Nov. 9. The Rams (2-7, 2-5) fell to Arizona Christian at home on Saturday, 45-35. Wayland ends the season Nov. 16 at home against No. 22 Langston (5-2, 4-1).
Former football player and current graduate assistant coach
Denzel Bradford of Huntsville was named homecoming king and junior cheerleader Savannah Ramirez of Belton was crowned homecoming queen.
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