The Coyotes travel to Ottawa on Saturday for a pivotal Kansas Conference and Gene Bissell Division game against the Ottawa Braves. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at AdventHealth Field.
LIVE COVERAGE
RECORDSÂ
- Kansas Wesleyan 7-2, 3-0 Bissell Division
- Ottawa 5-4, 3-0 Bissell Division
THE SERIESÂ
- The Coyotes have won the last eight games including a 30-13 victory last season in Ottawa. The Braves were victorious in seven of the previous eight before KWU's streak began. The Coyotes have a 12-10 edge since the 2001 season.
KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE
- With both teams 3-0 the winner will take control of the Bissell Division and just one regular season game left. The Coyotes finish at home against Sterling while Ottawa plays Tabor in Ottawa.
- The Coyotes defeated Tabor 31-0 last Saturday in Hillsboro. It was their sixth consecutive victory and sixth in a row against the Bluejays. Defense was the story once again as Tabor finished with just 151 total yards – 96 rushing and 55 passing. KWU had seven tackles for loss and the defense scored a touchdown when Josh King-Bradley recovered a Bluejays' fumble in the end zone in the third quarter.
- Opposing teams have had a tough time running the ball against the Coyotes. They've allowed an average of 31.5 yards rushing in their last four games – McPherson 24, Avila minus-1, Saint Mary 7 and Tabor 96.
- KWU had 425 total yards against Tabor – 225 passing and 200 rushing. Tyler Boston led the ground attack with 106 yards on 12 carries while freshman quarterback Byron McNair was 8 of 19 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Daeden Taylor had 66 yards rushing on 14 carries and a touchdown.
- The Coyotes are averaging 21.3 points and 306 yards this season – 156.6 passing and 149.8 rushing. Opponents are averaging 13.7 points and 263.4 yards.
OTTAWA AT A GLANCE
- After starting the season 1-4 the Braves have notched consecutive victories over Bethany, Saint Mary, Sterling and Avila and averaged 41.3 points and allowed 15.3 points in the process.
- OU defeated Avila 42-14 last week outscoring the Eagles 21-0 in the second half. Tailback Wynton Ruth rushed for 268 yards on 26 attempts (10.3 per carry), scored four touchdowns and was the KCAC Offensive Player of the Week. Tailback Malaki Peko added 123 yards on 17 carries as Ottawa finished with 436 yards rushing. Ruth has 982 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the season and Peko 573 yards and six scores.
- Quarterback Billy Maples has completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,157 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has 223 yards rushing and four TDs.
- Ottawa averages 30.3 points and allows 27.2. Opponents average 355.8 total yards.
- Linebacker AJ Hemphill averages 11 tackles per game and has 99 for the season, both team bests.
KWU COACH MATT MYERS
"We're going into this one like it's a playoff game. We still want to get into the (NAIA) top 25 so we need to have a really good showing offensively and defensively. Make sure we're hitting on all cylinders so we can make a showing nationally. (Ottawa) is talented up front, their O-line is good and they've got a couple of tailbacks that are performing well. That will be the task for us on Saturday making sure we're gap sound and we're running and tackling well. They have ability to get some push (with their line) and really get that running game going. They do a few things offensively that we haven't seen. We have to make sure we show up ready to play and play really well."
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NEXT WEEK
The Coyotes conclude the regular season next Saturday with a Bissell Division game against Sterling. Kickoff for the Senior Day contest is 1 p.m. on Gene Bissell Field at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.
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