Coyotes blow out Southwestern 38-6
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Linebacker Matt Myers runs a fake punt for a first down during the first quarter of KWU's 38-6 win over Southwestern. Photo by Max Iselin, Yote Photo

It’s good to be home. After playing three of its first four on the road, Kansas Wesleyan opened a three game home stand with a 38-6 blowout win over Southwestern College on Saturday night at Martin Stadium. It was another effort similar to last week’s 42-19 win over Ottawa, as the Coyotes piled up 385 yards of total offense.

It was all Coyotes from the start as Wesleyan (5-0, 5-0) jumped out to a 24-0 lead before Southwestern put a single tally on the board in the fourth. The Coyotes’ first score came via a 35-yard field goal from Michael Barry on Wesleyan’s opening drive. The score capped an eight-play, 38 yard drive at the 12:05 mark in the first.

Southwestern punted on a fourth and 18, and it appeared the punt was downed at the one yard line after a Southwestern player knocked the ball out of the endzone to a teammate, but the officials ruled he had stepped into the endzone before touching the ball, giving the Coyotes the ball at their own 20. Fourteen plays later, Justin Schropp hit Drew Phillips in the back of the endzone for the score with 12:49 left in the second. Barry’s kick made it 10-0 Coyotes.

Wesleyan had great field position on its next drive after Elijah Moseley’s punt went out of bounds at the SWC-37, but the Coyotes could get no close than the 33, when Schropp’s pass to Michael Donald on fourth down was incomplete, giving the ball back to Southwestern on downs.

Southwestern was able to get anything going on its next two drives, sandwiching a stalled Wesleyan drive, when the Coyotes struck again. Darell Grames only needed one play after the Coyotes took over at their own 35, as he went around the right side, made an amazing cutback to the left, and used a great block from Wesleyan receiver Marcus Lowe to go 65 yards for the score with 2:09 left in the second. Barry’s kick made it 17-0 in favor of Wesleyan.

The Coyotes closed out the first half, putting the clamps on the Southwestern offense with an interception by Robert Javadian stopped the Moundbuilder drive at the KWU-18. Southwestern had moved the ball from its own-19 all through the air. The drive appeared to stall at the KWU-40, but a personal foul facemask gave the ‘Builders a first down at the KWU-25, setting up the interception by Javadian.

The Coyotes took the ball to start the second half, driving to the SWC-34, when DeChad Ward was stopped on fourth down, giving the ball back to Southwestern. The ‘Builders drive appeared to stall at their own-39, but a punt fake pass from Scott Stoughton to Tony Hanson for 16 yards gave Southwestern new life. The ‘Builders again faced a fourth down at the KWU-21, when Mike Holst stepped in front of a Southwestern pass from Braden Smith and went the other way for 84 yards and a touchdown. Barry’s kick made it 24-0 Coyotes with 7:19 left in the third.

Southwestern, who had zero yards rushing at that point, then turned to the running game. The ‘Builders ran on five straight plays, including a 55-yard run by Andrew Pearson to give Southwestern the ball at the KWU-10. Wesleyan’s defense stepped up again, not allowing the ‘Builders to score. Southwestern had third and goal just short of the goal line, when Eric Williams knocked the ball loose from Pearson, and Willie Johnson recovered in the endzone for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes’ drive stalled at the 37, and a bad punt by Jarod Fronce gave Southwestern the ball at the KWU-47. Southwestern then scored 13 plays later on a two-yard run by Brendt Winn. They went for two, but Smith’s pass to Bryant Andrews was no good, cutting into the Coyotes’ lead 24-6.

Wesleyan added two scores in the fourth to blow the game wide open. Facing a first and 21 after a penalty, Schropp hit Lowe wide open down the middle from 50 yards out with 9:55 left. Barry’s kick made it 31-6.

Just over for minutes later, the Coyotes struck paydirt again as fullback Eric Ritzman scored from one yard out, capping a seven-play, 39 yard drive with 5:22 left.

The Coyotes piled up 288 yards rushing as team, led by Grames who carried 18 times for 136 yards and a score. Ward added 13 carries for 82 yards, and Joe Dixon, who played the last two series, carried ten times for 44 yards. Schropp was 6-of-14 passing for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Lowe led the Coyote receivers with three catches for 97 yards and a score, while Phillips had two catches for 12 yards and a score.

Southwestern (0-5, 0-4) was 235 yards of total offense on the evening. Andrew Pearson led the ‘Builders rushing attack with 11 carries for 73 yards, while Winn carried nine times for 22 yards and a touchdown. Smith was held in check, going 17-of-37 passing for 120 yards and two interceptions, well below his KCAC leading 243 yards per game average. Southwestern threw to ten different receivers, led by Ryan Molz with four catches for 33 yards.

The home stand continues for the Coyotes next Saturday, as they host Southwestern Assemblies of God at 7:00 at Martin Stadium.

-- KWU SI --