It's a bit unusual that the Wayland Baptist football team will take the field against Oklahoma-Panhandle State twice in its next three games. What may be even more strange is that those games are almost four months – and one holiday season – apart.
The odd schedule, brought about by COVID-19, will see the Pioneers and Aggies face off once in the fall and again in the spring. That fall encounter – which will count on the teams' overall records but not in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings – will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday in what will be Wayland's home-opener.
In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, WBU is not allowing spectators at this or any home event through December. Fans are encouraged to follow Saturday's game, and all WBU home athletic events, through free live streaming at
www.wbuathletics.com/watch.
"This was another one of those unprecedented decisions that we have faced this year," WBU President Dr. Bobby Hall said of the decision, announced in early October, not to allow spectators. "The health of our students has been our top priority. We have held a few events on campus that were open to the public, but through those events we realized how difficult it is to maintain proper safety protocols."
"I hate it for our parents, but they're making decisions they think are best for all of us," said football coach
Butch Henderson, who applauded the close to 50 Wayland fans who traveled to Arizona for the Pioneers' season-opener two weeks ago.
WBU Athletics Director
Rick Cooper said Wayland's expectation is to reopen athletic events to spectators in the spring.
"The intent of this measure is the well-being and safety of our student-athletes, staff and spectators. We want our fans to know this is for the fall only and we'll continue to monitor the situation as it relates to re-opening events to spectators in the spring semester," Cooper said.
While the Pioneers head into Saturday's game with just one game under their collective belt, the Aggies will roll into town with the advantage of having already played three games. OPSU played its first two games on the road, losing Sept. 12 to Ottawa, Kan., 27-21, and a week later to NCAA Division II West Texas A&M, 58-7. The Aggies then hosted Arizona Christian and fell in Goodwell, Okla., 28-13. That game came a week before Wayland went to Phoenix to face the Firestorm and fell, 31-28 in overtime.
"They have played three ballgames, so they have game experience," Henderson said.
Wayland will be looking for its second straight win over OPSU. After never defeating the Aggies in five previous meetings, the Pioneers broke through last season when they downed OPSU on homecoming, 35-14. In that game, which WBU led 28-0 at halftime, the Pioneer defense allowed only 54 yards rushing and OPSU to complete only 13-of-45 passes. Additionally, the Aggies converted only one of 20 third-down tries.
Henderson said defense will be a big part of Wayland's game plan again Saturday.
"Not that the offense isn't very capable, but if we'll ride (the defense), offensively, we just have to (take advantage) of the opportunities and do the little things," the coach said.
Henderson praised linebackers
Manny Arguijo, who had a team-high 17 tackles, and
Casey Buck for their performances against Arizona Christian. "Those two guys played really well," he said. "Manny runs hard to the football."
Similarly, OPSU leans on the middle of its defense, according to Henderson, with freshman noseguard Ryan DeHorney (5-10, 275), sophomore middle linebacker Malachi Green-Hightower (5-10, 225) and junior free safety Warren Dillon holding things together. Henderson called Dillon, OPSU's top tackler with 25, "one of the best tacklers I've seen in years. He's why they're able to be so aggressive.
"Defensively, they'll come stick ya. They have six in the box most of the time and try to lock down your wide receivers. We'll have to get it out of there fast."
On offense, Henderson said the Aggies depend on sophomore quarterback Shawn Cumby (6-2, 235) for much of their movement. Cumby has completed 39-of-69 passes for 328 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
"He not only handles a lot of their throwing but is also a dangerous runner. Their running backs run hard," Henderson said.
While the Pioneers were able to jump out to a big lead last year against OPSU, Henderson said it was good to see his team rally two weeks ago against Arizona Christian.
"We were down 21-7 and came back and went ahead 28-21. The kids battled hard," the coach said. "(Arizona Christian) made a great play to get it tied up, then we turned it over in overtime."
While the loss was disappointing, especially after fighting so hard to come back, Henderson said the team is focusing on the fact that the Pioneers never gave up.
"The battle to get there is the part we're concentrating on. That ability to believe and trust in what they're doing. When we were down 21-7, we didn't change anything. The two turnovers were big, but mostly the kids just bought into what we were doing. They were like, 'Hey, we can do this.' They stayed in there and fought but did not try to undo anything they had been coached."
Besides Arguijo and Buck, Henderson said cornerback
Caleb Howard (3 pass breakups), receiver
Elijah Boyd (2 touchdown receptions) and running back
Jacoby Hunt (21 rushes, 1 TD) all shined, among others.
"We had a lot of really good things happen for us. We just have to learn how to finish it out and win."
Those and other clutch performances were very much needed because of Wayland's roster adjustments due to COVID-19. The Pioneers were without several players who were expected to be key contributors in the season debut. But that, Henderson said, is just part of the equation in these times.
"The team that wins (the conference)," he said, "will be the team that's able to put the most consistent team on the field every week."
