Coyotes squeak by Saint Mary 3-0
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Anthony Padilla connects on a 35-yard field goal that proved to be the difference in KWU's 3-0 win over Saint Mary Photo courtesy of Yote Photo

It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but it was a win. Kansas Wesleyan used a 35-yard Anthony Padilla field goal in the third quarter to get by Saint Mary 3-0 on Homecoming 2006. The win boosts the no.14 ranked Coyotes record to 3-0 overall, and in the KCAC, while Saint Mary falls to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the KCAC.

Both offenses struggled most of the night moving the ball, as neither team was able to put a touchdown on the board.

Saint Mary opened the game with the ball but the drive stalled at the USM-34, on a third down sack of quarterback Terry Wilcox by Eric Williams. Chris Butala’s punt was fielded by Andy Bean at the KWU-32, where he lost control of the ball and LaKaito Barr-Miller recovered giving the Spires great field position at the KWU 32 yard line.

KWU’s defense rose to the challenge and held the Spires to a minus-one yards on the drive and a Butala punt went into the end zone for a touchback.

After three and out drives by both teams, the Coyotes took over at its own 27, but a Saint Mary penalty on the punt gave Wesleyan the ball at the USM-32. The Coyotes appeared to have a good drive going as Justin Schropp converted a third and 10 with an 18 yard run, but the drive stalled and Darell Grames was stopped short on fourth and two, giving the ball back over to Saint Mary on downs.

Wesleyan again had fourth and two later in the second quarter when Schropp was tackled for an eight-yard loss by Jake Kelly and Barr-Miller after Wesleyan’s drive had stalled at the Saint Mary 34-yard line.

Just before the half, Saint Mary got great field position at the KWU-48 after another stalled drive by the Coyotes, and the Spires used a 29-yard run by Bryan Bosley, a Wilcox run and another Bosley run to have first and goal at the KWU-5. The Coyote defense stepped up again stopping Mike Kamerer for no gain, and a five-yard loss on a keeper play by Simeon Seiler and Colten Campbell knocked Saint Mary back to the 10. However, the penalty bug struck as Wesleyan was called for a five yard face mask. The Coyote defense held, as Devin Sherman tackled Wilcox for a loss, and a pass to Josh Grayson was incomplete, giving Saint Mary fourth and goal. Butala came on to attempt a 23-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Wesleyan’s Matt Myers giving the Coyotes the ball back.

After another stalled Saint Mary drive to start the third quarter, Wesleyan took over at its own 49, but an unsportsmanlike penalty call after the play gave the Coyotes great field position at the Spires’ 36. Wesleyan got down to the 18, but a penalty on the Coyotes pushed them back five yards to the 23 on third down. Schropp’s pass to Marcus Lowe was incomplete, and Padilla came on for the field goal attempt from 40-yards out. Saint Mary was called for a penalty, moving the ball five yards closer for Padilla, who slid it in from 35 yards out with 10:17 left in the third to give the Coyotes the 3-0 lead.

Back to back Saint Mary penalties on the ensuing drive set up a fourth and 27 for the Spires at their own 33. Butala’s punt was fair caught by Bean at the KWU-36. Two big penalties on the Coyotes saw them pinned deep in their own territory at the 15 on fourth down.

The rest of the third quarter, and a majority of the fourth saw several failed drives by both teams resulting in punt, but it was the Coyote defense who made a couple big plays to seal the win. Wilcox looked over the middle on a first down play but was picked off by Willie Johnson at the KWU-32 with 7:26 left.

On the next Saint Mary drive, the Spires tried to go for the big score on a second and two play, but Johnson grabbed another interception, this time at the KWU 15 with 4:24 left.

The Coyotes faced a third and three at their own 31 when DeChad Ward broke a couple tackles and went for 48 yards down to the Saint Mary 21 yard line. Grames was tackled for a loss on the next play, but another Saint Mary penalty gave KWU a first down at the Saint Mary 12 with 1:38 left. The Coyotes ran three more plays to run out the clock and come away with the win over the Spires.

Grames led the way for the Coyotes with 32 carries for 101 yards, while Ward carried four times for 52 yards. Schropp was 4-of-13 passing on the night for 43 yards, including a 34-yard play to Marcus Lowe just before the end of the third quarter. Lowe had the single catch for 34 yards, while Bean had two grabs for 11 yards. The Coyotes were only able to generate 214 yards of offense on the night.

Bryan Bosley was the top rusher for Saint Mary with 10 carries for 47 yards. Mike Kamerer had three for 24 yards. Wilcox was 10-of-20 passing for 63 yards, and two interceptions. Jay Osborne led the Saint Mary receivers with five catches for 35 yards.

Wesleyan heads back on the road next week, as they travel to Ottawa to play the Braves in a 7:00 PM kickoff at Ottawa High School. The Braves are playing at Ottawa High this season while renovations are being completed to their stadium.

-- KWU SI --