Football Game Notes: Week Eight: St. Francis (Ind.)‏

William Penn University Athletics

Oskaloosa–The biggest game of the year may not be in league action as two top-team programs square off in Oskaloosa Saturday.

#5 William Penn (7-0) hosts #9 St. Francis (Ind.) (4-2) of the MSFA’s Mideast League at Lacey Complex Stadium at 1 p.m.

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 (all games): Heard live at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/kboe.portal
TV (home games): Viewed and heard live on Mahaska Communication Group’s local channel
Internet (home games): Viewed and heard live at http://origin.peg.tv/pegtv_player?s=wpenn

SERIES HISTORY: William Penn is 0-4 all-time in its series against St. Francis (Ind.).

The programs have not met since 2007 with the Cougars remaining perfect in the series with a 71-7 victory.

St. Francis (Ind.) outgained the Statesmen 797-176. Ryan Van Dalen passed for 68 yards and Mario Whitney recorded another 68 on the ground.

2002–St. Francis (Ind.), 49-14
2003–St. Francis (Ind.), 49-14
2006–St. Francis (Ind.), 39-6
2007–St. Francis (Ind.), 71-7

WILLIAM PENN PROFILE: Todd Hafner is in his ninth year as head football coach at William Penn, entering the campaign with a 52-37 career record.

Hafner guided William Penn to a 9-2 record last year and the team again led the NAIA in rushing with 3,634 yards. He was also at the helm in 2010 when the navy and gold won their fifth league crown (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 119 all-conference players and 14 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.

William Penn remained undefeated with a 53-14 rain-soaked and lightning-delayed victory against St. Mary (Kan.) last Saturday.

Dalton Phelps (Sr., Tipton, Iowa, Physical Education) and Evan Ressler (So., Cascade, Iowa, Biology) both surpassed the century mark in rushing with 116 and 102 yards, respectively. The team gained 427 of its 496 yards on the ground.

Michael Wright (Sr., Olive Branch, Miss., Physical Education) played a big part in the defensive showing by returning an interception 70 yards for a score. Four turnovers were forced by the unit.

For the year, William Penn is averaging 38.7 points and 379.3 yards per game, including 334.7 rushing and 44.6 passing.

The squad is again first in the NAIA in total rushing yards (2,343) and rushing yards per game. The Statesmen are also seventh in total scoring (271) and tenth in scoring average.

Ressler leads the Statesmen offense with 507 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Six other players, including Parsons with 405 yards and five scores, are also over the century mark.

Parsons is now 20-of-53 in the passing game, accounting for 304 yards and two TDs. Aaron Broyles (Jr., Escondido, Calif., Physical Education) has six receptions, while Ed Cazenave (Jr., Marietta, Ga., Communications) has collected 134 yards through the air.

William Penn has only committed ten turnovers this year.

Defensively, the Statesmen are giving up an average of 8.9 points and 257.3 yards, including 133.4 passing and 123.9 rushing.

William Penn is strong nationally in points allowed per game (second), passing yards allowed per game (third), and total yards allowed per game (sixth).

Brock Peery (Jr., Payson, Utah, Secondary Education) tops William Penn with 59 stops. Nick DiMarco (So., St. Charles, Mo., Physical Education) has a team-best 3.5 sacks, while Perry King (Jr., Valdosta, Ga., Physical Education) has recorded three interceptions. The Statesmen have forced 22 turnovers.

Marcus Kerrigan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Sociology) is having another strong year, going 25-of-30 in point-after-attempts and 5-of-6 in field goals.

The team is again utilizing a two-punter formation with Kerrigan, DiMarco, and Jason Johnson (Jr., Geneseo, Ill., Industrial Technology) having all sent the pigskin into the air. Johnson has kicked eight times for a clip of 35.4 yards, while Kerrigan has nine punts for a 34.4 yard average. DiMarco also has seven attempts for a 31.9 mark.

Cazenave has taken seven back for an average of 11.6 yards (long of 21 yards), while Joel Medina (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Sociology) has six punt returns for a clip of 13.5 yards (long of 40 yards).

William Penn was picked to finish second in the Midwest League.

St. francis (INd.) PROFILE: Kevin Donley is in his 34th year as a collegiate head coach and his 15th at St. Francis (Ind.). Entering this campaign, he is 254-116-1 overall (140-31 at USF).

Donley has led the Cougars to an incredible amount of success, including nine Mideast League titles and three national championship game appearances. He was the NAIA Coach of the Year in 2004 and broke the NAIA’s all-time coaching wins record earlier this year.

He has also coached at Anderson, Georgetown (Ky.), and California (Pa.), leading Georgetown to the national title in 1991.

A 1973 graduate of Anderson, he received his master’s of education from Ball State in 1980.

The Cougars came up just short of knocking off a #1 team for the second time this year in a 45-38 setback to Marian last Saturday.

St. Francis (Ind.), who defeated former #1 Saint Xavier one game earlier, looked poised for another upset in leading 28-21 at intermission. The Knights scored ten unanswered points to start the third quarter and never trailed again.

The Cougars led most categories, including a final yardage tally of 522-425. David Yoder completed 27 passes for 322 yards, while Antoin Campbell rushed for 141 yards.

Aaron Knight hauled in ten balls for 119 yards, while Akeim Kelsaw had 98 yards and Austin Coleman finished with 97 yards and two touchdowns.

The big difference came in the turnover battle with USF committing three, but failing to take one back.

For the year, St. Francis (Ind.) is averaging 39.7 points and 450.7 yards per game, including 251.7 passing and 199.0 rushing.

The Cougars are ninth in the NAIA in total yards per game and scoring average.

Yoder tops a trio of passers who have over 200 yards through the air. He is 56-of-90 for 702 yards and four scores, while the aforementioned trio of Kelsaw (27 rec., 288 yards, 1 TD), Coleman (26 rec., 397 yards, 6 TDs), and Knight (23 rec., 265 yards) have produced big time on the other end.

Campbell is pacing the ground attack with 714 yards and eight scores. He is sixth in the nation in yards per game and ninth in total yards. The offense has given the ball away ten times this fall.

Defensively, the Cougars are giving up an average of 21.3 points and 303.3 yards, including 178.0 passing and 125.3 rushing.

Taylor Brown has a squad-best 44 tackles, while Matt Smith has sacked opposing QBs four times. Four different players have one interception as the defense has forced 11 turnovers this year.

Emerson Euber is 24-of-30 in extra points and 2-of-3 in field goals, while Kollin Carman has punted 13 times for a 42.2 average.

Coleman is the main kick returner with 15 tries for a 26.7 clip.
Knight has taken five punts back for a 14.8 average.

St. Francis (Ind.) was picked to finish third in the Mideast League.

COACH HAFNER SAYS: On the St. Mary (Kan.) game: “Our team’s enthusiasm for the game was outstanding. We rallied around each other and embraced the opportunity to play in the mud. Our players really had a fun day and the fact we came out on top was icing on the cake.”

On St. Francis (Ind.): “Our team is looking forward to the challenge of playing another ranked team. St. Francis has history, they are well-coached, and they have many great players. It is going to be a very exciting atmosphere for Fill the Stadium Day and our players are ready to embrace the opportunity to show the fans what kind of team we have. I know our players are going to play extremely hard and it is going to be a great game.”