Wesleyan drops season opener to Bethel 17-6
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

NORTH NEWTON – Kansas Wesleyan dropped its football season opener to defending KCAC Co-Champions Bethel College 17-6 on Saturday night at Thresher Stadium. It marks the second straight season the Coyotes have opened the year with a loss to the Threshers.

After a first quarter that saw KWU move the ball well, outside of the two fumbles given up by senior tailback Preston McCorkle, the Wesleyan offense bogged down in the second quarter and most of the second half, unable to produce any points.

Bethel, the No.17 ranked team in the NAIA, also had problems moving the ball, especially in the red zone, where the Threshers had two chances with first and goals inside the KWU ten, but only came away with three points.

Steven Valliere nearly broke the opening kickoff return, returning it 37 yards, only to be tripped up by the kicker Braden Dragomir and Jeff Hennick. Wesleyan’s offense didn’t have much goings on the first drive, mustering just eight yards, forcing a 47-yard Scotty McKeon punt that went for a touchback.

Bethel was stopped on their opening drive, but was handed back the ball just four plays later when McCorkle coughed the ball up for the first time in the quarter. Rodney Shaw made the play to strip the ball at the Bethel-37, which was recovered by Jerrod Guthrie at the 34.

After a failed Bethel drive and punt that pinned Wesleyan at its own two yard line, the Coyotes were able to get out to their own 39, when McCorkle again lost the handle and Scott Yerges recovered the ball.

Bethel could get no closer than the KWU-25 on its ensuing drive, where the Threshers would give the ball back to the Coyotes on their own 29 after a loss on third down.

Wesleyan would get its only points of the night on the next drive. After a false start penalty gave KWU first and 15 at their own 37, Drew Dallas found Jason Dolan for six yards to set up a third and eight at the Coyote-44. Dallas then found Marcus Lowe streaking down the middle of the field, who made the catch and opened the gap between himself and the Bethel defender and went untouched into the endzone for the score with 13:05 to go in the half.

Bethel got on the board on its ensuing drive, when the Threshers had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Dragomir, after being unable to score with first and goal at the two-yard line.

Bethel jumped on top on the next drive, when the Threshers got their third takeaway of the half. After Dallas converted a third and eight to Jason Dolan, he was forced to scramble to the left and tried to underhand a pass to Dolan on the next play, but Bethel’s Jesse Mueller stepped in front of the play, making the pick and headed 53 yards the other way, untouched for the score.

Bethel would take a 10-6 lead into the break.

After a mostly quiet third quarter, the Threshers wrapped up the period with an impressive 13 play, 78-yard march that netted the only points of the second half for either team. Bethel quarterback Brett Clow finished the drive with a three-yard run and Dragomie’s kick made it 17-6 with nine second left in the quarter.

The Coyotes imploded in the fourth quarter, both offensive and defensive. The Coyotes failed to move the ball effectively, and when they did, penalties negated the big plays. The Coyotes also gave up some costly penalties on defense as well. Six times Wesleyan was penalized for 85 yards in the fourth alone.

Offensively, the Coyotes tallied 321 yards of offense, 116 rushing and 205 passing. The Coyotes were led on the ground by McCorkle with 20 carries for 69 yards, while Jeremy Washington added six for 27. Dallas was just 15-of-35 for 205 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Dolan had five catches for 66 yards, while Valliere also had five grabs for 49 yards and Lowe added four catches for 77 yards.

Bethel racked up 308 yards of offense led by Clow who was 14-of-31 for 180 yards passing. Beau Cox had 104 yards rushing on 21 carries.

The Coyotes are back in action next Saturday as Wesleyan hosts McPherson at 7 p.m. at Salina Stadium. It’s the 2008 home opener for the Coyotes.

-- KWU SI --