Coyotes conclude spring football with showcase
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

KWU head coach Dave Dallas applauds his team's efforts at the conclusion of Thursday's spring footbal showcase

Kansas Wesleyan concluded its spring football practice sessions on Thursday afternoon with a showcase open to the public at the football practice field. The Coyotes ran approximately 55 scripted plays over the hour-long exhibition. Wesleyan coaches were happy with the results.

“We about 55 guys out there today,” head coach Dave Dallas said. “We did a lot of things very well, we executed well also. There’s only so many things you can do in ten one-hour practice sessions, and I think we moved forward very well.

Offensively, the Coyotes seemed to click on all cylinders, especially with the running game. “We havea very talented group of backs out there,” Dallas said. “Of course there’s Darell (Grames), but DeChad (Ward) and Stevy (Townsel) looked really good out there also.”

Grames led the NAIA in rushing yards per game last season, and received several national honors, and was named as the Gene Bissell KWU Male Athlete of the Year last night at the annual honors convocation.

Dallas said the passing game looked good despite the limited practice sessions. “You really need more time than what we had to develop a good passing game, to get down the timing and routes,” Dallas said.

Dallas was pleased overall with the effort of the defense, but said there are still some things that need to be shored up. “We had some outstanding efforts by some of our defensive players like Eric Williams, Colten Campbell, Matt Meyer, Brandon Clemmons and Dante Collins,” he said. “There are still some things we have to work on, but I am confident with our defensive unit, and the progress we made this spring.”

The Coyotes were allowed ten, one-hour workouts by the Kansas Conference for spring workouts.

The Coyotes will report for the beginning of the 2006 season on August 18, and will open the season on September 9, against two-time defending KCAC Champion Tabor College in Hillsboro.

-- KWU SI --