Statesmen Still Perfect with 35-14 Win Over Olivet Nazarene
William Penn Statesmen kept their perfect season in their win over Olivet Nazarene Saturday (photo Amanda Hudnut)
Bourbonnais, Ill.–In its final preparation before what most believe is the biggest game of the season, the Statesmen gridiron squad held off Olivet Nazarene 35-14 in Midwest League play Saturday.
#5 William Penn (6-0, 3-0 MWL), who has now won nine in a row dating back to 2010, returned to its dominant ways on offense one week after behind held to 210 yards by McKendree. The squad outgained the Tigers 418-210, including 287 on the ground and 131 in the air.
The offense is back just in time as the Statesmen travel to Joliet, Ill. next Saturday to face #16 St. Francis in Midwest League play at 6 p.m.
In one of the strangest beginnings one will ever witness, both teams fumbled on their first touch of the ball (ONU on the opening kickoff and WPU on its first play from scrimmage). Each program was then stopped on three-and-outs, but on their third possession, the Statesmen took advantage of good field position (ONU 46-yard line), courtesy of an interception by Joseph Frye (Fr., Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS), and put the first points on the board.
Taylor Parsons (So., The Woodlands, Texas, College Park HS) put the visitors on top for good with a 29-yard scamper with 6:39 left in the first quarter.
The sophomore then used his arm to double the advantage, connecting with Perry King (So., Valdosta, Ga., Valdosta HS) for a 14-yard passing score just 58 seconds into the second quarter.
The Tigers (1-5, 0-3 MWL) answered with their first TD and then forced another Statesmen fumble (three for both teams Saturday) to set themselves up to tie the contest.
Fortunately, with only seven yards behind it, the defensive unit rose to the occasion and stopped the home team on 3rd-and-1 and 4th-and-1 to give the pigskin back to the offense.
An extremely long and important drive of 15 plays and 99 yards ensued, basically breaking the back of Olivet Nazarene.
Parsons capped the possession with a one-yard plunge to make it 21-7 just 1:35 before intermission.
The quarterback, who rushed 15 times for 78 yards, was not done airing it out, however, hooking up with DeMarco Sanders (Sr., Horn Lake, Miss., Horn Lake HS) for a 75-yard touchdown midway through the third stanza. Parsons finished six-of-nine for 131 yards. His four-score performance (two rush, two pass) is the second of 2011.
As he has all season long, Shawn Davis (So., Hamersville, Ohio, Western Brown HS) topped the navy and gold in rushing with 119 yards (19 carries), placing the cherry on top with a 37-yarder with 11:51 remaining in regulation.
Scott Adams (Fr., Park City, Utah, Park City HS) topped William Penn with six tackles, while Nick DiMarco (Fr., St. Charles, Mo., Francis Howell North HS) and Micheal Welch (So., Houston, Texas, Booker T. Washington HS) had a sack apiece. DiMarco and Jordi Vernor (Sr., Ripley, Miss., Northeast Mississippi CC) both forced fumbles.
