Coyotes snap two-game skid with win over Saint Mary
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan snapped a two game losing streak as the Coyotes pulled away from the Saint Mary Spires for a 27-12 win on Saturday afternoon at Salina Stadium.

Both teams’ opening drives lasted just one play as the turnover bug hit early. Wesleyan’s Plasee Conway intercepted Matt Warner’s pass at the Saint Mary 19, and returned it to the 17, where the Coyotes would set up shop. Preston McCorkle would have the ball stripped by Saint Mary’s LaKaito Barr-Miller on the Coyotes’ first play giving the ball back to the Spires at the Saint Mary 18 yard line.

The Spires could get no further than the Wesleyan-43 on ensuing drive when Chris Butala’s punt would be returned 46 yards by Jason Dolan, setting up the Coyotes at the USM-46. It only took two plays for the Coyotes to give the ball back to the Spires. Gideon Anderson would knock it loose from McCorkle and Daryl Kruegar would recover it at the Spire-34.

Neither team moved the ball on their next drives, and the score would be tied 0-0 after the first quarter.

Saint Mary’s drive would end with another turnover, when Willie Johnson would pick off Warner at the KWU-18. The Wesleyan drive would inch into Saint Mary territory before stalling at the USM-47, and Troy Van Blarcom’s punt would be fair caught at the USM-22 by Charles Lee.

Wesleyan would get its second pick in as many drives when Warner’s pass would be snagged by Ryan Dolan on a third down play.

This time Wesleyan would capitalize, needing only three plays to go 23 yards, capped by a four-yard McCorkle run to get the Coyotes on the board 7-0 with 5:15 to go in the second.

Two big Bryan Bosley runs would get Saint Mary into Wesleyan territory, but the Spire drive would stall at the KWU-31, and Bobby Schattle would hit a 47-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

That’s when things would get a little interesting, when the Salina Stadium scoreboard suffered a serious malfunction, losing some of its display, and the rest of the game would have to be played with time being kept on the field.

Wesleyan would use a little trickery on the ensuing drive but it would go for not, as Jason Dolan’s pass was picked off by Jason Pierson at the KWU-47, and he would return it 30 yards, giving Saint Mary great field position at the KWU-17.

Saint Mary would have first and goal at the KWU-7, but a holding penalty would send them back, and they could get no closer than the 15, where the drive stalled and Schattle came on and hit a 32-yard field goal with 38 seconds left before the half.

Steven Valliere would nearly break the kick return for a touchdown, as Nate Carey made the score-saving stop for the Spires after a 52-yard return at the USM-42.

After two incomplete passes, Drew Dallas would hit Jason Dolan wide open over the middle for a 42-yard touchdown score and Van Blarcom’s kick would make it 14-6 with five seconds to go before the half.

Saint Mary would give the ball back to the Coyotes on its first drive of the second half when Daniel Robles’ backward pass would miss its target and Willie Johnson would pick it up, giving it back the Coyotes at the KWU-42.

Three plays would net only five yards and Van Blarcom would place a punt out of bounds at the USM-11.

The Spires would again hand the ball back to the Coyotes on their next possession. A bad snap would be recovered by Dustin Trimble giving the Coyotes the ball at the USM-37.

Wesleyan would get no closer than the USM-17, where Van Blarcom would hit a 34-yard field goal putting the Coyotes up 17-6 with 5:37 left in the third.

On Saint Mary’s next drive, the Spires would turn it over for the third time in as many drives when Warner would lose the handle on a quarterback sneak on fourth down and Ryan Dolan would return it 23 yards, giving KWU the ball at the USM-27.

Wesleyan would only manage seven yards on the drive and would settle for a 38-yard Van Blarcom field goal, putting Wesleyan up 20-6.

Saint Mary would get flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties before the kickoff and Van Blarcom would kickoff in Saint Mary territory, and pooch it to the USM-6.

Saint Mary’s drive would carry into the fourth quarter and would stall at the USM-33 on a sack of Robles by Eric Hahn. Chris Butala would come out and hit a 67-yard punt for a touchback.

After a stalled Wesleyan drive Saint Mary would score on its next chance when Robles would hit Glen Wallin from 19 yards out, cutting the lead to 20-12.

The Spires would try a high onside kick, but Brandon McGinn would recover and give the Coyotes the ball at the Saint Mary 46. Two plays later Dallas would hit Marcus Lowe over the middle for a 43-yard score putting Wesleyan ahead 27-12 with 9:04 left.

Both teams would turn the ball over on downs on their next possessions, and then Saint Mary would give it back to the Coyotes when Willie Johnson would pick his second ball of the game.

Wesleyan appeared to be on the march for another score, when Valliere would fumble at the USM-16, and would be covered by Anderson with 18 seconds left.

A 15-yard pass play and a 32-yard hook and ladder play would get Saint Mary into Wesleyan territory, but the clock would run out, and the Coyotes would come away with the 27-12 win.

Wesleyan (4-3, 3-3) was led by Preston McCorkle with 60 yards rushing on 19 attempts and one score, while Valliere added 13 carries for 47 yards. Drew Dallas was 12-for-21 passing for 156 yards and two scores. Jason Dolan had three catches for 66 yards to lead the Coyote receivers, while Valliere added three for 17 yards and Lowe had two grabs for 44 yards and a score.

Saint Mary (2-4, 2-4) was led in rushing by Bosley with 32 carries for 124 yards. Robles was 7-for-17 passing for 103 yards and a score, while Warner was just 3-for-9 for 43 yards and had three interceptions.

KWU is back on the road for two straight, heading to Sterling next week to take on the a Warrior team who crushed Bethany 42-0 on Saturday afternoon in Sterling.

-- KWU SI --