The Coyotes play Bethany in their home opener Saturday. Kickoff for the Kansas Conference game is 10 a.m. on Bissell Field at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex. The decision to change kickoff time was made Wednesday because of the heat.
LIVE COVERAGE
RECORDS
- Kansas Wesleyan 0-1
- Bethany 0-1
THE SERIES
- This will be the 113th meeting between the longtime arch rivals. KWU has won the last eight games and 10 of 11 including a 49-6 victory last season at JRI Stadium. The Coyotes have scored at least 49 points during the eight-game streak. Wesleyan is 17-5 vs. the Swedes since 2001 but Bethany has a 57-49-6 overall advantage.
KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE
- The Coyotes opened the season with a 17-7 loss to new KCAC member Evangel last Saturday in Nixa, Missouri. The defense forced five Valor turnovers – three interceptions and two fumbles – but the offense could not get untracked, finishing with 148 total yards and four turnovers.
- Richard Lara started at quarterback for KWU and was replaced in the second quarter by Trent Graves. They were a combined 10 of 24 passing for 94 yards and no interceptions.
- Getting the running game going will be imperative. The Coyotes had 54 yards on 33 attempts against Evangel, led by Tyler Boston's 35 yards on 10 carries. Nick Allsman scored the touchdown on a five-yard run in the first quarter.
- Juniors Daeden Taylor and Graves will run the offense with Lara ailing this week. Both are transfers, Taylor from Feather River College (Calif.) and Graves from Sul Ross University.
- Nose guard Muhamad Abusharkh, a transfer from Quincy University, had two of the three interceptions – the first in the first quarter led to Allsman's score and the second late in the second quarter which he returned for 35 yards. Ricardo Garcia had the third interception early in the fourth quarter.
BETHANY AT A GLANCE
- The Swedes are led by first-year head coach Mike Grossner. A 1988 Bethany graduate Grossner previously coached Baker for 15 years and led the Wildcats to seven NAIA playoff appearances, one national title game and six Heart of America Conference titles.
- The Swedes lost to Avila 46-23 in their opener last Saturday in Lindsborg. They led 17-6 midway through the second quarter and trailed 18-17 at halftime. Avila outscored Bethany 46-13 the final three quarters.
- Bethany finished with 351 total yards and Avila 424 including 297 passing. Each team had four turnovers.
- Quarterback Peyton Mainofli, who is 6-foot-6 and weighs 250 pounds, threw for 161 yards, Michael Young caught nine passes for 141 yards and a touchdown and running back Zamarion Spencer had 102 yards rushing and a score. Young and Spencer are freshmen.
- Linebacker Connor Payomo returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter.
KWU COACH MATT MYERS
"We are looking to bounce back in a big way and I expect us to come out and perform. We need to run the ball well, complete some passes and really stretch the field a little bit this week. If the running game doesn't get going it puts a lot of pressure on other aspects of our offensive scheme. Last week we gave up 399 yards and 92 plays which is not what we've come to expect from a Kansas Wesleyan defense. Bethany completed some deep balls last week and (Young) is very talented, is very fast and quick. The tailback runs hard. Their defense is sound across the board, they had a defensive touchdown and capitalized on an Avila mistake."
NEXT WEEK
The Coyotes play Kessinger Division favorite and 11th-ranked Southwestern at 6 p.m. Saturday in Winfield.
