Offense comes alive as Coyotes blast Ottawa 42-19
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

It took four games, but it finally happened, in a big way. Kansas Wesleyan’s offense exploded for 447 yards as the Coyotes blasted Ottawa 42-19 Saturday night at Steve Grogan Stadium in Ottawa.

True freshman Justin Schropp also had a break out game, in just his fourth collegiate start, accounting for 231 of Wesleyan’s 447 yards himself, and having a part in five of the six Wesleyan touchdowns – three rushing and two passing.

Wesleyan (4-0, 4-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead thanks to two touchdown runs by Schropp. The first was a perfectly executed option play around the left end, which he cut back across the field, going 54 yards untouched into the endzone with 2:39 to go in the first quarter. The run capped a lightning quick four-play, 74 yard drive for the Coyotes.

After an Ottawa punt, Schropp did it again, this time from five yards out, on a keeper sweep with 13:34 left in the second, capping a nine play, 82 yard drive for the Coyotes. The scoring play was set up by a 19-yard pass from Schropp to Marcus Lowe, converting a third and four situation.

Ottawa answered on its next drive eating up 45 yards on a double reverse flea flicker pass from Neil Moore to Calvin Davenport to give the Braves first and goal on the KWU-2. The Coyote defense put up a wall, holding Vashon Perryman for no gain on the first play, and sacking Moore for a three-yard loss on second down. Mike Holst broke up Moore’s pass to Davenport on third down, and the Braves had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Cebold with 11:48 left.

The Coyotes made it 21-3 with 5:10 to go before the half when Schropp hit Lowe wide open in the endzone from 31 yards out, and Michael Barry’s third PAT kick gave Wesleyan the 18 point lead at the half. Wesleyan evened tried a little trickery at the end of the half, with negative results. Schropp handed off to Andy Bean who rolled out to the right and fired a perfect pass to Lowe at the OU-25, but the ball glanced off Lowe’s shoulder pads into the waiting arms of Raul Tucker for his second interception of the game.

After an 11 yard return of a Cebold punt by Bean, KWU set up shop at the OU-37, and nine plays later, DeChad Ward scored from four yards out, and Barry’s kick turned the game into a rout at 28-3 with 9:02 left.

Ottawa scored on the ensuing drive, breathing new life after it appeared that Wesleyan had stopped the Braves on fourth-and-one at the KWU-43, when the Coyotes were called for an incidental face mask, giving Ottawa first down at the KWU-37. Moore then hit Trevor Anderson over the middle, and Perryman scored on the next play from five out with 6:01 left. Cebold’s kick got Ottawa within 18 at 28-10.

It only took Wesleyan two minutes to answer Ottawa’s score. Schropp went around the right end, again untouched, for 64 yards to put Wesleyan back up 35-10 with Barry’s kick.

Wesleyan scored one final time with 13:12 left in the game as Schropp hit Lowe from nine yards out in the back corner of the endzone, capping an eight-play, 52 yard drive. Barry’s kick made it 42-13.

Ottawa added a score with 6:08 to go as Moore hit Matt Middleton from seven yards out. The Braves went for two, but Moore’s pass to Middleton was over his head.

Schropp led the way for the Coyotes ground game, running for 143 yards on nine carries and three scores, as the Coyotes collectively ran for 335 yards on the night. Grames carried 18 times for 79 yards before leaving the game early in the third quarter. Ward chipped in 16 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Joe Dixon had nine carries for 23 yards. Schropp was also 8-for-12 passing for 88 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Brad Manning was 1-for-1 for 24 yards, and Bean was 0-for-1 with one interception. Lowe led the Coyote receivers with three catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns, while Ward had two catches for 15, and Eric Ritzman had one for 24 yards.

Ottawa was held to only 37 yards rushing, led by Perryman with nine carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. Moore had ten carries, mostly scrambles after the pocket collapsed, for 13 yards, and Napoleon McNeal had five for eight. Moore was 14-of-28 passing for 204 yards and one touchdown, as Davenport led Ottawa’s receivers with three catches for 85 yards. Middleton added five catches for 66 yards and Anderson had three for 36.

The Coyotes begin a three game homestand next weekend against Southwestern College beginning at 7:00 PM at Martin Stadium. It’s also CiCi’s Pizza Youth Day.

-- KWU SI --