Football overpowers Tabor in season finale
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan used a season high 442 yards of total offense, half of which coming from running back Preston McCorkle as the Coyotes easily handed Tabor College in the season finale for both teams on Saturday at Salina Stadium.

The Coyotes forced three pivotal first half turnovers by the Bluejays, two of which turned into 14 Coyote points.

After opening series by both teams ended in punts, Tabor gave the ball back to the Coyotes on its second drive of the game. Linebacker Brandon McGinn broke through the line and knocked the ball loose from Tabor quarterback Anthony Davis, and Matt Case recovered at the KWU-44.

Seven plays and 56 yards later, McCorkle went in from three yards out to put the Coyotes up 7-0 with 3:53 to go in the first quarter. The scoring play was set up by a 25-yard run by McCorkle on third down.

Wesleyan got on the board again just 55 seconds into the second quarter. McCorkle got down to the Tabor-1 on a 15-yard run, setting up a one-yard Drew Dallas to Derryl Hill touchdown pass, capping an eight-play, 57 yard drive.

Tabor would give the ball back to the Coyotes on each of its next two possessions after bad snaps to Davis. Dustin Trimble would recover the first on the KWU-35. A personal foul call against Tabor would give Wesleyan the ball at midfield, but the Coyotes could go nowhere, settling for a Troy Van Blarcom punt.

Tabor appeared to be going in for the score after a 49-yard pass play from Davis to Caleb Marsh gave the Bluejays first and goal at the KWU-2, but another bad snap would fall into the hands of Plasee Conway at the KWU-5, for the third Tabor turnover of the day.

The Coyotes would make the turnover count eight plays later. Dallas would hit Marcus Lowe for a 41-yard pass play on third down to get the Coyotes in Tabor territory, and two plays later Steven Valliere would break several Tabor tackles to go 30 yards for the score with 1:33 to go before the half. Van Blarcom’s PAT would make it 21-0.

Valliere nearly broke the third quarter kickoff for a score. Taking the ball at the goal line, Valliere weaved through the Tabor defense before finally being drug down at the KWU-45, where the Coyotes would set up shop.

Valliere would set up the scoring play with a 19-yard run, allowing Brad Cintas to go in from six yards out, and Van Blarcom’s kick would make it 28-0, capping a nine-play 55 yard drive.

After a failed drive by Tabor, Van Blarcom would nail a 37 yard field goal to put Wesleyan up 31-0 with 4:46 to go in the third. The kick capped a nine-play, 35 yard drive that stalled at the Tabor 21 yard line.

Davis would score from 16-yards out on Tabor’s next drive for the Bluejays’ only score of the day. Davis would tuck and run on a third down play and go nearly untouched in for the score.

Wesleyan’s final score would come as time expired in the third quarter. Dallas would connect with Cintas from 12-yards out and Van Blarcom’s kick would make in 38-7.

The Coyotes got plenty of opportunities for younger players to get quality playing time in the fourth quarter as ten different KWU players got carries in the game.

McCorkle led the way for KWU (5-5, 4-5) with 219 yards rushing on 29 carries and one score. Valliere pitched in 11 touches for 101 yards and a score as the Coyotes racked up 362 yards of rushing offense on the day. Dallas was just 4-of-12 for 80 yards, but had two of the four completions go for touchdowns. Lowe led the receivers with two catches for 67 yards.

Demetrius Cox led Tabor (1-9, 0-9) with 74 yards rushing on 18 carries, while Davis was 15-of-26 passing for 211 yards. Marsh led the Tabor receivers with six catches for 88 yards, while Jason Medellin had four grabs for 27 yards.

KWU concludes its season with a 5-5 overall record, including going 4-5 in KCAC play.

-- KWU SI --