William Penn Football Game Notes: Week Three: Luther
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–A long-standing rivalry resumes Saturday when William Penn heads north to face Luther in non-conference action.
The #8 nationally-ranked Statesmen (2-0) travel to Decorah to play the Norse (0-1) in Carlson Stadium at 1 p.m. The teams have not played since the turn of the century.
STATESMEN BROADCASTING: Every William Penn football game can be followed through several different mediums.
Radio (all games): Heard live on KBOE 740 AM or 104.9 FM
Internet (home games): Viewed and heard live at http://origin.peg.tv/pegtv_player?s=wpenn
TV (home games): Viewed and heard live on Mahaska Communication Group’s local channel
Internet (away games): Heard live at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/kboe.portal
LUTHER VIDEO STREAM: Luther will provide a live video stream at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/luther.portal#
SERIES HISTORY: William Penn and Luther resume their series, which stands at 26-12-1 in favor of the Norse.
The last time the squads met, Luther won 42-7 back in 2000. The last Statesmen win came in 1999, prevailing 28-22.
WILLIAM PENN PROFILE: Todd Hafner is in his eighth year as head football coach at William Penn, entering the campaign with a 43-35 career record.
Hafner guided William Penn to its fifth league crown in 2010 and its first since 1976. The team finished 10-1, tying the school record for wins, and also broke NAIA single-season marks for total rushing yards and yards per attempt. Numerous other school marks were set in 2010.
The 2008 and 2010 Midwest League Coach of the Year, Hafner was also the recipient of the VSN NAIA Coach of the Year and the NFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year honors. As skipper, he has produced 98 all-conference players and 12 All-Americans.
Prior to his career at William Penn, Hafner had coaching stops at Carl Junction HS, Southwest Baptist University, Emporia State University, and Pittsburg State University (student coach).
Hafner graduated from Pittsburg State in 1994 with a degree in mathematics.
Last week, William Penn shut out Bethel (Kan.) 56-0 in non-conference play.
Shawn Davis (So., Hamersville, Ohio, Western Brown HS) once again hit the 100-yard mark with a game-high 108 rushing yards. Taylor Parsons (So., The Woodlands, Texas, College Park HS) was accomplished both on the ground (105 yards) and through the air (6-of-8 for 136 yards and two touchdowns).
Six different players recorded a rushing score.
Eric Walzer (So., Park City, Utah, Highland HS) had a team-high seven tackles, while Andrew Reed (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) picked off two passes. The Statesmen forced five turnovers on the day.
For the year, William Penn averages 500.5 yards per game, including 424.5 rushing and 76.0 passing.
Davis leads the Statesmen offense with 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Parsons is right behind him with 204 yards and four scores.
Corey Ketchum (Sr., El Dorado Springs, Mo., El Dorado Springs HS) is also over the century mark with 100 yards and two TDs.
Due to the powerful running attack, Parsons has not been asked to throw the pigskin much. The sophomore is 8-of-19 for 152 yards and two TDs.
DeMarco Sanders (Sr., Horn Lake, Miss., Horn Lake HS) tops the receiving corps with two catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Statesmen are giving up an average of 198.5 yards, including 123.5 passing and 75.0 rushing.
Rushawn Stewart (Sr., Houston, Texas, Eisenhower HS) is the top tackler for the navy and gold with 16 stops. Damon Harrison (Sr., Lake Charles, La., Lake Charles Boston HS) and Brandon Dunbar (Jr., Houston, Texas, Booker T. Washington HS) each have two sacks and Reed has two interceptions.
Marcus Kerrigan (So., Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove HS) is a perfect 14-for-14 in extra points and 0-for-1 in field goals. The team utilizes two punters, Kerrigan and Jason Johnson (So., Geneseo, Ill., Geneseo HS). Johnson has punted two times for a 43.5 yard average, while Kerrigan has kicked three times for a clip of 34.0 yards.
Sanders is topping the kick return game with one return for 26 yards. The team has not returned many punts either with Junior Delva (So., Miami, Fla., Hialeah HS) taking one back 14 yards.
William Penn is picked to win the Midwest League, the first time it has been chosen as the favorite since joining the MSFA in 2002.
LUTHER PROFILE: Mike Durnin is in his fourth year as head football coach at Luther, owning a 15-15 career record.
Prior to his head coaching stint, he spent seven years as an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse, helping the team to four NCAA Division III playoff appearances.
A 1981 graduate of UW-La Crosse, he received his master’s degree from Minnesota State-Mankato in 1983.
A failed two-point conversion late in the contest sunk the Norse against St. Olaf (Minn.) in non-conference play last week.
The squad pulled within two points with 3:11 left in regulation, but Chris Reynolds was unable to cross the goal line on the conversion and St. Olaf ran out the clock.
Reynolds completed 13-of-28 passes for 114 yards, while Dan Ridenour tallied 83 yards on the ground.
For the 2010 year, the Luther offense tallied 366.9 yards per game, including 185.6 passing and 181.3 rushing.
Reynolds led the Norse through the air, completing 188-of-316 passes for 1,843 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 691 yards and crossed the goal line four times.
Dalen Dirth was Reynolds’ top target, hauling in 66 passes for 593 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Luther gave up 335.3 yards per contest, including 188.7 passing and 146.6 rushing.
Kyle McGivney was one of the best tacklers in NCAA Division III, tallying 198 stops. Rick Westermann managed four quarterback sacks, while Trevor Theobald picked off four passes.
Seth Streeter was 22-of-28 in PATs and even better in field goals, going 9-of-11. Donny Norlander punted the ball 39 times for a 31.8 average.
Donterrious Porter was the team’s best kick returner, taking 36 kickoffs back for an average of 19.3 yards, while Dana Schmitt’s punt return clip was 4.5 yards over 19 attempts.
Luther is picked to finish fith in the IIAC.
COACH HAFNER SAYS: On Bethel Game: “I thought Bethel was a much improved team over what we saw from last year. Our defense was again outstanding and our offense was able to take advantage of the turnovers they created.”
On Luther: “Luther is the best team we have seen to date. They play extremely hard and have one of the best linebackers in all of NCAA Division III. Coach Durnin will have them fired up for their home opener so we know we will have to go in and give our best effort in order to come out on top.”
WILLIAM PENN RATED IN NAIA & VSN POLLS: The Statesmen open up 2011 as one of the nation’s hottest teams. William Penn is #8 in both the NAIA and VSN preseason polls.
STATESMEN HIGH IN NAIA STATS RANKINGS: William Penn ranks very high in numerous NAIA statistical categories.
The navy and gold is the best in the nation in total rushing yards (849) and rushing yards per game (424.5). With two games under its belt, the squad also has the most points (98). William Penn also ranks eighth in total yards per game (500.5) and ninth in total yards allowed per game (198.5).
Defensively, the Statesmen have the most sacks in the division (7).
Individually, Reed (two interceptions) and Kerrigan (100% PAT kicking) are at the top of the NAIA. Parsons is second in scoring (24 points) as are Harrison and Dunbar in sacks (2). Davis is fifth in rushing (208 yards), while Parsons is sixth (204).
