Coyotes rally for big win over Bethany 28-25
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

On the first drive of the game, Bethany methodically drove down the field, using a 27 yard run by Kerwin Washington, and two J.T. Ball passes for a total of 29 yards to go from their own 24 to the Coyote 11 yard line in just seven plays. It was the eighth play of the drive when Wesleyan’s Mike Holst forced a fumble by Orlando Chavez, that was recovered by Scott L’Ecuyer on the Wesleyan nine-yard line.

The Coyotes took over there, and drove out to their 37, where it appeared the Coyote drive was going to stall, but Dallas elected to go for the first down on fourth and one from the 37. Junior Alexis handed the ball off to Wesleyan workhorse tailback Darell Grames who exploited a large hole on the right side for 63 yards and a Coyote touchdown. Trione’s extra point into a swirling wind made it 7-0 Coyotes with 8:14 to, cap a 6-play, 91-yard drive, all on the ground by Grames.

In the waning moments of the first quarter, Wesleyan’s defense stepped up again, as Pat Feaster forced a fumble, this time by Kerwin Washington, at the Bethany-18, Feaster picked the ball up at the 10, and rumbled down to the two, before Swede quarterback Ball finally drug him down. One play later, Grames went across on a stretch play to the left side from two yards out, and the Coyotes led 14-0 after one quarter of play.

After two unsuccessful drives by each team in the second quarter, Bethany turned solely to their passing game, as Ball drove the Swedes down the field, completing only two of his eight passes on the drive, and scrambling for 18 yards, before scoring on a quarterback keeper from three yards out, to get the Swedes on the board with 4:16 to go in the half.

The Coyotes capitalized again on the next drive, riding the legs of Grames down the field, as he carried the ball eight times for 32 yards on the drive. Alexis turned to the air, finding Ernest Ballenger wide open from 23 yards away for the scoring play, capping the nine play, 55-yard drive to give the Coyotes a 21-7 lead.

KWU's Darell Grames (28) turns the corner on the way to his second touchdown of the day, a 2-yard run set up by a fumble recovery by the Coyotes' Pat Feaster

Bethany took over at their own 14, but could go nowhere, when Steve Baker’s pass was picked off by Scott L’Ecuyer on the Swede 23-yard line, and returned to the 20. L’Ecuyer, in his final game as a Coyote, sprinted off the field with the ball, up into the stands, and gave the ball to his father.

On the ensuing drive, Wesleyan only managed two yards on two plays, before sending the field goal unit out for what appeared to be a 35-yard field goal attempt with eight seconds left, instead it was a fake, and Trione lobbed a pass up for Drew Phillips, who caught it, but was short of the end zone. Wesleyan was called for an illegal formation, and had to make the try again, this time from 40-yards out, but again Dallas called for the fake, but the pass to Phillips was incomplete. This time, things went the way of the Coyotes, as Bethany was called for a pass interference penalty, giving the Coyotes first and goal on the eight yard line. The Coyotes again turned to Grames, who took the handoff and went on the right side look to score. Grames was met by several Bethany players, who were joined by Wesleyan players, which ended up looking something like a rugby scrum, as a mass of 22 players went barreling into the endzone. It appeared that Grames had scored, but the officials ruled his knee touched just inside the one yard line, and halftime had arrived.

After the half, Bethany’s first drive stalled at the KWU 40, thanks to two straight pass break ups by John Louis, giving him three on the drive alone. Bearden’s punt was downed at the Wesleyan two yard line, but the Coyotes could not get any further than their own 16, where Grames coughed up the ball, which was recovered by Cole Eberle. Bethany would have to settle with a 22-yard field goal from Jonathon Cox to get the Swedes within 11 at 21-10.

KWU's Jerod Barrett (26) cuts to the outside as Wes DuBois (78) clears the road of any would be Bethany tacklers during the first quarter of KWU's 28-25 win over the Swedes

Bethany appeared to be driving again, when senior defensive back Brandon Sutton picked off a Ball pass at the Wesleyan 37 yard line. It was the first of three Sutton interceptions on the day.

The Coyotes drove down the field, using a fake punt pass from Sutton to Justin Davis to convert a fourth-and-two at the Bethany 41. The Coyotes got as close as the Bethany 11-yard line, but Trione missed a 28-yard attempt into a strong cross wind.

Bethany took over, and drove 80 yards in just eight plays, capping the drive with a 12-yard pass from Steve Baker to Brandon Krinhop. The Swedes went for two, as Jacob Rodriguez hit Baker for the PAT, to pull them within three at 21-18.

On the kickoff, backup quarterback Steve Phillips returned the kick to the KWU-43 yard line, where the Coyotes took over. The Coyotes could not muster any offense and gave the ball back to Bethany, where they took over at their own 48 yard line following a 33-yard return of the Davis punt by Alexander Haynes.

Bethany drove to the KWU 39, on a Baker pass to Michael Cuestas on third down, but on the next play, Sutton picked off his second ball of the day at the KWU 15, returning it out to the Wesleyan 41-yard line. Again the Wesleyan drive would bog down, and the Coyotes gave the ball back to the Swedes at their own 19-yard line following a 41-yard punt by Davis.

Seven plays later, Ball pitched the option to Washington around the left side, and he went 57 yards untouched into the end zone. Cox’s kick gave Bethany their first lead of the day at 25-21, with 6:13 left.

L'Ecuyer returns from the stands from giving the game ball to his father, after intercepting a pass in the second quarter of the Coyotes' 28-25 win over Bethany.

The Coyotes answered right back, putting together a 12-play, 76-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard run by Jerod Barrett to give the Coyotes the lead back at 28-25. The Coyotes converted two huge fourth downs, a fourth and six, and a fourth and one, both on Grames runs to keep the drive alive. But it was Barrett who provided the excitement as he made the last two carries of the drive. The first around the left side, with Barrett streaking down the sideline. He appeared to have jaunted in for the score, but stepped out of bounds at the Bethany 17. The Coyotes went left again, this time Barrett stayed in bounds for the score.

Following the kickoff, Bethany took over on their own 33-yard line. On third down, Sutton stepped up again making his third interception of the day, a leaping grab of a Baker pass intended for Porifio Mendez to seal the victory for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes took over and ran out the clock giving them the three point win, and finishing with an 8-2 overall record, 7-2 in the KCAC.

The Coyotes did most of their damage on the ground, as they racked up 292 yards of their 337 yards of total offense rushing. Grames led the way, carrying 38 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Grames finished the season with 1628 yards, only 38 yards short of breaking the 34-year old record of 1665 yards held by NAIA Hall of Famer Charles Jessamy. Barrett carried 12 times for 79 yards, 41 of them coming on the last two plays of Wesleyan’s game winning drive. Junior Alexis was 5-for-17 passing for 34 yards, and one touchdown, the 23-yard pass to Ballenger. Ballenger led the receivers with the one catch for the score, while Jeremy Jones had two grabs for only five yards. Justin Davis had the catch of the fake punt for 11-yards, while Clifton Fernandez had one catch for four yards, and Grames had one catch for two yards.

The Coyote defense was a big factor, causing six Bethany turnovers, two fumbles and four interceptions, three by Sutton.

Bethany put together a relative balanced attacked, aided by big plays. The Swedes had 163 yards rushing, and 203 passing. Quarterback J.T. Ball led the Swede runners with 88 yards on 16 carries, several of them being scrambles after the pass protection broke down. Kerwin Washington pitched in 72 yards on nine carries, including the 57-yard touchdown run in the fourth. The Swedes struggled throwing the ball, only completing 17 of their 45 passes on the afternoon. Ball and Baker split duties, with Ball going 14-for-34 for 171 yards and three interceptions. Baker was three-for-11 for only 32 yards, but threw three interceptions on the afternoon. Krinhop led the Bethany receivers with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown, while Chavez had three catches for 41 yards.

The Coyotes finish their season with an 8-2 overall record, 7-2 in the KCAC, while Bethany finishes the season below .500 for the second straight season at 2-8 overall, and 2-7 in the KCAC.

-- KWU SI --

	Images by Matt Williams and Krista Marsicek