Playoff Run Ends with 31-0 Loss to Defending Champs in FCS First Round
Freshman Quarterback Tyler Hafner is swarmed by the Saint Xavier Cougars defense on Saturday during the first round by the defending champs in FCS.
Chicago, Ill.–The William Penn football team had not been to the playoffs in nearly four decades, but unfortunately its long-awaited return ended abruptly as the Statesmen were shut out 31-0 to #4 Saint Xavier in the NAIA Football Championship Series First Round Saturday.
#13 William Penn, who ends its 2012 campaign at 9-3, was outgained 496-233 on the afternoon. In their only two trips to the postseason, the Statesmen have been held scoreless both times (also lost 27-0 to California Lutheran in 1975). The shutout was also the first since September 3, 2009, a stretch of 43 straight games.
The visitors kicked off to the defending national champions to open the contest and were put on their heels from the opening play. Saint Xavier (10-1) advanced the ball all the way to the WPU one-yard line, but the Statesmen defense eventually stiffened and forced a 21-yard field goal just four minutes in.
The navy and gold offense failed to respond in their first possession with a three-and-out, but the hosts were also unable to advance their cause with a three-and-out of their own.
William Penn picked up its first first down on the next drive, only to punt it back to its foe. The Cougars then moved methodically down the gridiron, but another gridiron stand ended with a forced fumble of SXU quarterback Jimmy Coy at the one-yard line. Scott Adams (So., Park City, Utah, Sociology) recovered the fumble, keeping the Statesmen down just one field goal after one stanza.
Saint Xavier came up short on its first possession of the second quarter as well, reaching the Statesmen 24-yard line. The visitors finally crossed into SXU territory on their ensuing drive, but Shawn Davis (Jr., Hamersville, Ohio, Physical Education) was stripped of the pigskin at the 38-yard line.
Coy then led the Cougars quickly down the turf, finishing with a 23-yard scoring pass just 1:39 later to make it 10-0 with 7:52 left until halftime.
It did not get any better for the navy and gold as they were forced to punt yet again. Attempting to spark its offense, William Penn faked a punt in its own territory. Unfortunately, Jason Johnson (Jr., Geneseo, Ill., Industrial Technology) was stopped for a five-yard loss.
Saint Xavier took advantage of the failed gamble, scoring on the next play from scrimmage. One more Cougar stop deep in Statesmen territory put the navy and gold in trouble one more time. The snap on the punt sailed over the head of Marcus Kerrigan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Sociology), giving SXU two more points for a 19-0 halftime lead.
Saint Xavier reached the redzone twice more in the second half, but the WPU defense came up with another stop as Andrew Reed (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education) intercepted Coy in the endzone. The Cougars were just 2-of-6 in the redzone, accounting for only nine points (missed extra point).
Offensively, the navy and gold did not have much success, only moving into the redzone once. That drive, which came in the fourth quarter, unfortunately did not result in any points (lost possession on downs).
The brightest spot on a dim day came on special teams with William Penn blocking four kicks (two extra points, one field goal, one punt).
Tyler Hafner (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Undecided) was thrust into his first collegiate start as starting quarterback Taylor Parsons (Jr., The Woodlands, Texas, Sociology) was unavailable due to a concussion suffered in last week’s playoff-qualifying win over Grand View.
He performed admirably, considering the gravity of the situation. The freshman has a strong arm and utilized it by completing 10-of-27 passes for 133 yards.
Aaron Broyles (Jr., Escondido, Calif., Physical Education) caught four passes for 34 yards, while Ed Cazenave (So., Marietta, Ga., Communications) tallied a team-best 46 yards. Dalton Phelps (Sr., Tipton, Iowa, Physical Education) topped the Statesmen ground game with 54 yards and Evan Ressler (So., Cascade, Iowa, Biology) added 34 yards.
Jacob Batterson (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) guided the defense with 15 tackles and two blocked kicks. Adams also reached double figures with 12 stops.
The loss ends the careers of 13 seniors, including Cory Alfermann (Washington, Mo., Physical Education), Brandon Dunbar (Houston, Texas, Biology), Berrington Fort (Aberdeen, Miss. Physical Education), David Harris (Fulton, Miss., Industrial Technology), Cash Lovett (Southaven, Miss., Psychology), Joel Medina (Palmdale, Calif., Sociology), Randall Packard (Forestville, Calif., Physical Education), Phelps, Reed, Lewis Russell (Fairfield, Iowa, Sociology), Tye Sparks (Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management), Mason Woods (Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management), and Michael Wright (Olive Branch, Miss., Physical Education).
“I am very proud of this team,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “We did not get the result we wanted today, but the heart and pride these guys displayed all year was something special.”
“Saint Xavier has a very good football team,” Hafner added. “I thought our players gave a great effort today, but it just was not quite enough. We are going to miss this senior class for lots of reasons, but most importantly because they were great players and even better teammates. We will go back to work after Christmas and do our best to make it back to the playoffs next year and make a longer run.”
