Dallas gets career win No. 100 as Coyotes squeak past SW Assemblies
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan coach Dave Dallas got his 100th career win in dramatic fashion as the Coyotes rallied from a four-point deficit in the fourth quarter to get past winless Southwestern Assemblies of God 30-28 on Saturday night at Salina Stadium.

The Coyotes were plagued by six turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns by the Lions.

Wesleyan (2-1, 1-1) appeared to take early control as Troy Van Blarcom hit a 34-yard field goal with 4:41 left in the first on Wesleyan’s third drive of the game after the Coyotes drove to the SAGU-18.

The Coyotes scored again with 1:40 left in the first after the Lions gave Wesleyan a short field after a 16 yard punt by Joseph Garcia. KWU quarterback Drew Dallas scored from one yard out, capping the four-play, 39-yard drive, and Van Blarcom’s PAT put the Coyotes ahead 10-0.

Southwestern Assemblies would get on the board when Raymond Santibenez would hit a 28-yard field goal on its ensuing drive to get the Lions within seven at 10-3 with 12:36 to go in the first half.

On Wesleyan’s next drive, Dallas would hit Jason Dolan with a 27-yard pass, and Preston McCorkle would have a 25-yard run, setting up a nine-yard pass from Dallas to Brad Cintas two plays later for the score, giving the Coyotes a 17-3 lead with 10:28 before the half.

SAGU would give the ball back to the Coyotes on its next drive, when Ryan Dolan would pick off a pass from Garcia and appear to take it back for a touchdown, but a penalty during the return would negate the score and give the Coyotes the ball on the KWU-41.

Wesleyan would then give the ball right back to the Coyotes when Dallas would throw his second interception of the night on a ball intended for Jason Dolan was picked off by Ryan Muhlman at the Lion-23.

Twice the Lions’ drive would be extended by Wesleyan penalties, and Southwestern Assemblies would use a 28-yard pass from back-up quarterback Jason Rice to Taylor Wallis to give the Lions first and goal at the KWU-7. Two plays later, Rice scored from four yards out, getting SAGU within eight at 17-9 with 1:24 to go before the half. Brandon McGinn would block the PAT kick.

Wesleyan would take a 17-9 lead into the half.

The Lions were unable to score on the first drive of the second half, but turned to their defense for the first points in the third quarter. Dallas was sacked for a 19-yard loss on a second down play and Jason Jenkins stripped Dallas of the ball before the play was called dead and went 40 yards untouched for a score to get the Lions within two at 17-15. SAGU was called for a pass interference penalty on the PAT attempt and was forced to try again from 18 yards away, and were unable to tie the game up with 10:47 to go in the third.

A fumble on the kickoff return by Willie Johnson would give the Lions the ball back, and they would get as close as the Coyote-16 where the drive stalled and Santibenez would come on to try a 33-yard field goal. McGinn would again penetrate the line and block his second kick of the night, breathing new life for the Coyotes, who took over at their own 20 following the block.

A 59-yard run by McCorkle on the first play of the drive for the Coyotes would give Wesleyan first and ten at the SAGU-21. Four plays later, McCorkle would score from one yard out, and Van Blarcom’s PAT would give the Coyotes a 24-15 lead with 6:28 left.

Santibenez would hit a 33-yard field goal with 2:22 left getting the Lions within six, and Wesleyan would again give the Lions the ball on the kickoff return, this time when Jason Dolan would give up the ball and Zak Martinez would return it 26 yards for the score. Santibenez’ kick would give the Lions their first lead of the night at 25-24 with 2:22 left.

On the Coyotes’ next drive, Steven Valliere would fumble at the SAGU-17, giving the Lions the ball back. A 45-yard run by Chris Eiland on the first play would give Southwestern Assemblies (0-4) the ball at the KWU-38. SAGU had first and goal at the KWU-8 following a penalty, but a two-yard loss by Eiland and two incomplete passes would force a 27-yard Santibenez field goal, putting SAGU ahead 28-24 with 8:19 left.

Wesleyan’s ensuing drive would be a Dallas classic with McCorkle leading the way. A seven-yard run on the first play would set the tone, as the Coyotes marched down the field on the ground, gobbling up large chunks of real estate against the exhausted Lion defense. All 14 plays of the 64-yard drive would be runs, including eight by McCorkle as he racked up 55 yards during the six and a half minute march. The drive would be capped by a one-yard QB sneak by Dallas. A low snap on the PAT would force Jason Dolan to scramble, but the Coyotes could not convert.

Eiland would go for four yards on the first play of SAGU’s drive, and a five-yard face mask call would give the Lions first-and-one at the SAGU-33, when Garcia’s pass was picked off by Willie Johnson at the 43, and he returned it 20 yards sealing the win for the Coyotes.

McCorkle would get two more yards on the first play of the game ending drive, before two Dallas kneeldowns would run out the clock.

The Coyotes racked up 376 yards of total offense, including 310 on the ground, led by McCorkle’s 27 carries for 215 yards and one score. Steven Valliere added 15 carries for 61 yards, and Dallas had nine carries for five yards, and two touchdowns. Dallas was also 6-of-11 passing for 66 yards, but had two interceptions. Derryl Hill led the Coyote receivers with two catches for 19 yards.

Southwestern Assemblies had 305 yards of total offense, which including 234 yards on the ground. The Lion running attack was led by Eiland’s 26 carries for 179 yards. Rice and Garcia split time at the quarterback position as Garcia was 4-of-16 for 12 yards and two interceptions, while Rice was 3-of-5 for 59 yards.

Wesleyan is back in action next Saturday as they host Southwestern in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Salina Stadium. It’s Homecoming 2007 for the Coyotes.

-- KWU SI --