Coyotes drop second straight game in 27-13 loss to Bethany
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

LINDSBORG – Kansas Wesleyan gave up 435 yards of total offense to the Bethany Swedes as the Coyotes dropped their second consecutive game and fourth in the last five with a 27-13 loss on Saturday at Anderson Field.

The Swedes racked up an impressive 194 yards rushing led by bruising back Sean Dahley, who had 138 yards on 29 carries and one touchdown. Bethany added 241 yards passing.

KWU quarterback Drew Dallas had his busiest game of the season, going 24-of-47 passing with 209 yards and one touchdown, against no interceptions after throwing five last week at Sterling.

Wesleyan started the game with the ball, but gave it to Bethany when Marcus Lowe was stripped at the Bethany-39 yard line by Ira Autry.

The Swedes would capitalize on the turnover, capping a 17-play, 61 yard drive with a two-yard Adam Garza run to take a 6-0 lead after Casey Dallas would block the PAT attempt.

Wesleyan would cut the Swede lead in half when Troy Van Blarcom would hit a 32-yard field goal at the 11:01 mark of the second quarter to cap a 15-play, 55 yard drive that stalled at Bethany’s 15 yard line.

The Coyotes would make a big defensive stop on Bethany’s next drive, as Plasee Conway and Dustin Trimble would stop Garza for a two-yard loss on a fourth and one play at the KWU-13. The Coyotes would only get six yards before giving the ball back to Bethany on a punt.

After a penalty on the punt would put the ball at midfield, the Swedes would only need five plays to score on a 19-yard pass from Kawika Kalawe to Willie Edwards with 1:47 left in the first half.

The Coyotes would make it to the Bethany-31, where Dallas’ pass to Jason Dolan would be incomplete on fourth down, and Bethany would take a 13-3 lead into the half.

Bethany would fail to convert a fourth down on the opening drive of the third, and Wesleyan would capitalize capping a six play, 15 yard drive with a 49-yard Van Blarcom field goal to make it 13-6 with 9:11 left in the third.

On Bethany’s next drive, Kalawe would appear to throw an incomplete pass, but the ball would carom off a Swede player’s helmet to Willie Edwards would would fly down the sideline and appear to score, but he was called out of bounds and the KWU-11. A Bethany penalty would push the ball back to the KWU-26 where Mark Margres would hit Edwards for a 26-yard touchdown pass and Alvarez’ kick would make it 20-6 with 7:18 to go in the third.

Willie Johnson nearly broke the short kickoff from Alvarez, but would be knocked out at the Bethany-20. Preston McCorkle would fumble on KWU’s first play of the drive giving the ball back to the Swedes.

Dahley would score on a 32-yard run in the fourth to cap the scoring for the Swedes.

Dallas would find Michael Donald from 13 yards out for a late Wesleyan score, but it wasn’t enough as the Swedes came away with the 27-13 win.

McCorkle was KWU’s (4-5, 3-5) leading rusher with 16 carries for 63 yards, while Steve Valliere added nine touches for 27 yards. Dallas was 27-of-47 passing for 209 yards and one score. The Coyote receivers would be led by Donald with seven grabs for 78 yards and one score, while Marcus Lowe would have six catches for 53 yards and Jason Dolan would add four for 43 yards.

Dahley led Bethany (5-4, 4-4) with 138 yards on 29 carries and one touchdown, while Kavelle Gordon had six carries for 57 yards. Kalawe was 11-for-13 for 198 yards and one score, while Margres was 2-for-5 passing for 43 yards and a score as Bethany used two quarterbacks in the game. Edwards led the Swede receivers with five catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while Gordon had two catches for 32 yards and Robert Bieger added a pair of grabs for 24 yards.

The Coyotes will wrap up the 2007 season on next Saturday at home against Tabor. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Salina Stadium.

-- KWU SI --