Statesmen Do Not Overlook Wildcats in 48-21 Victory
Canton, Mo.–The William Penn football team made sure to not get caught in a trap game as it defeated Culver-Stockton 48-21 in its Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division opener Saturday.
Refusing to look ahead to a matchup with No. 1 Grand View next Saturday, the 24th-ranked Statesmen (5-0, 1-0 Heart North) outgained the Wildcats (2-3, 0-1 Heart North) by a 486-385 margin, and in the process, extended their win streak to five games.
Destynd Loring (Sr., Charleston S.C., Sports Management) was again a weapon of destruction, rushing 25 times of 142 yards, but most impressively tying the school single-game rushing touchdown record with five. He matches Tequil Franklin as the only other Statesmen to achieve the feat; Franklin did so against Dubuque in 1996.
The Wildcats started the game on offense and put together a 73-yard touchdown drive. William Penn then immediately returned the favor with its own 13-play, 97-yard touchdown drive, finished off by a one-yard run by Loring. The squads would hold the 7-7 line through the end of the first quarter.
The next time William Penn had the ball, the possession was highlighted by a 55-yard toss from Sterling Ramsey II (Sr., Broken Arrow, Okla., Business Management) to Kendrick Canon (So., North Miami, Fla., Wellness and Recreation). The drive concluded with a five yard touchdown run by Loring. The Statesmen would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the afternoon.
Kameron Cummings (So., Houston, Texas, Business Management) abruptly ended C-SC’s next drive with an interception, and the visitors took advantage with another touchdown drive, moving the ball 46 yards in eight plays. Loring cashed in a from a yard out.
The Wildcats found no more luck the next time they touched the ball, punting the ball to midfield. William Penn took advantage of the short field, rushing on six of its eight plays before punching in a two-yard touchdown run by Loring, bringing the advantage to 28-7 at the break.
The Statesmen then opened the second half with the ball and essentially put the game away with a 62-yard drive that culminated in a Ramsey three-yard TD pass to Alexander Price (Sr., Dallas, Texas, Sports Management).
Culver-Stockton attempted to keep pace with a score to draw within 20 at 34-14. They then forced a Statesmen turnover on downs, but Jeremiah Dennard (So., St., Petersburg, Fla., Business Management) got the pigskin right back with an interception.
Over 6:42 was drained from the clock in a drive that went for 80 yards and ended with a 35-yard scamper by Loring to tie the program record for rushing scores.
Following a Culver-Stockton touchdown, Ezekiel Mills (So., Tampa, Fla., Biology) capped the contest’s scoring with a two-yard rushing touchdown in the waning minutes.
Defensively, Marquis Harry (So., Pompano Beach, Fla., Business Management) and Brian Weatherspoon (Jr., West Memphis, Ark., Business Management) led William Penn in tackles with eight apiece, while Christian Watts (So., Dallas, Texas, Business Management) had the lone sack for the navy and gold.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our players and coaches,” Head Coach Marc Benavidez said. “Starting 5-0 and having another shot against the team up north in a week. This is where we want to be as a program, but we have plenty of more work ahead of us.”
Next Up: William Penn will host rival Grand View in Oskaloosa next Saturday at 2 p.m. in a Heart North Division contest.
