Call it being doused with cold water, punched in the mouth or some other sudden, stupefying act. Last week's season-opening 79-14 loss was a shock to the Wayland Baptist football team's system.
WBU coach
Butch Henderson said the hardest part of the setback to the NCAA Division III sixth-ranked Hardin-Simmons Cowboys may have been the blow to the Pioneers' belief system "that you're going to be able to play well and win" then "have that knocked out from under you."
But, Henderson added, "That's the way life works sometimes, and you have to be able to handle that. That's the biggest challenge of where we are. Hardin-Simmons is very good, but our kids hung in and fought. That has to carry us as we go into conference this week."
The Pioneers get a chance to dust themselves off Saturday when they open Sooner Athletic Conference play against the Lyon College (Ark.) Scots. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. at Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium with tickets ($10 for adults, $5 for students) available at the gate.
Catch Dan Zeigler's pregame show beginning at 10:30 a.m. followed by free live streaming at
www.wbuathletics.com/watch.
Like the Pioneers, the Scots come to town sporting a bloodied nose, having been toppled by 10th-ranked Ottawa (Ariz.) in their conference-opener last week in Batesville, Ark., 70-0. That came a week after Lyon debuted with a 24-12 victory, also at home, over Missouri Baptist.
The Pioneers hope this season follows a similar path to 2021 when Wayland chased a season-opening loss (49-0) to Hardin-Simmons with a convincing road win (31-7) over Lyon. Graduated WBU quarterback
Nick Quintero completed 27-of-33 passes for 219 yards and two TDs, including one to
Skyler Whitten,
Jacoby Hunt ran for a score, and Jeffrey Lucido booted a 23-yard field goal and four PATs.
That win ran WBU's record against Lyon to 5-2.
Looking at the Scots, Henderson said Lyon "has the ability – especially with (Isaiah) Bradford at quarterback – to make big plays. They were able to do that against Missouri Baptist (Bradford rushed for 47 yards and two TDs) but were not able to make enough against Ottawa. Ottawa controlled the ball and kept them out of it from the start."
The coach said that – a slow start – is what got Wayland into trouble against HSU, which led 28-0 with 2 minutes still left in the first quarter. The Cowboys had their first points just 69 seconds after kickoff when they returning a fumble on a punt attempt.
"The greatest thing we learned was when playing really good people, don't make mistakes, especially early. Two big mistakes in the kicking game really set us back. This week we need to come out early and make some things happen."
That's what Wayland did last season against Lyon as the Pioneers used a fast start – leading 21-0 in the first quarter – to gain and then keep the upper hand.
Examining Lyon's defense, Henderson said it has "changed completely" from a year ago. "They were a 4-2-5; now they run a 3-3 stack, which fits their personnel very well with not as many down linemen. Their coaches have done a good job putting a package together that looks complex but probably to them is simple. They kept Ottawa from making big, long plays but made them (drive) the ball."
As for Wayland's defense, Henderson believes it will be fine despite giving up the second-most points in school history last week.
"The defense has to trust what they're coached to do. (Defensive coordinator Marcos Hinojos) does a great job knowing what players' abilities are and then designing the defense to use that. I think you'll see them come around."
The main focus for Wayland this week, Henderson said, needs to be moving forward and not dwelling on the past.
"We need to come in and do what we know how to do. We need to bring that same heart, that same belief system we went into (last week) with."
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