Benson Returns Kickoff for TD in Loss to Baker
Amos Johnson rushed for 49 yards Saturday
Oskaloosa–Jeremiah Benson (Fr., Kansas City, Mo., Physical Education) provided the highlight reel action, but unfortunately the rest of the game belonged to #5 Baker in a 41-7 Heart of America Athletic Conference crossover loss Saturday.
William Penn (0-3) found out what Grand View and Culver-Stockton already knew–Baker is the real deal and is a legitimate contender for the NAIA crown this fall.
Already down 13-0 inside six minutes to go in the opening period, WPU’s freshman wide receiver gave his squad hope as he took a short kickoff at the 27-yard line and broke free. When the dust cleared, Benson had traveled 73 yards to cut the deficit to six. The kickoff return score is the program’s first since October 12, 2013 when Jacob Batterson found paydirt against Waldorf.
The hosts moved into visitor territory twice in the second stanza, including inside the red zone right before halftime, but gave the ball back for one of their three turnovers. Surprisingly, the team only trailed 20-7 at intermission, despite trailing in total yardage by nearly 300 yards at that point.
The Statesmen marched across the 50 on two other occasions in the second half, but came up empty on those trips as well. The Wildcats (3-0) did not fail to convert, however, and scored three more times after the break. The navy and gold were outgained 612-200 with 176 of those yards coming via the ground attack.
Amos Johnson (Jr., Rock Island, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) led the running game with 49 yards, while Sage Ehresman (Fr., Sully, Iowa, Exercise Science) added 33 yards and Nate Van Veldhuizen (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) finished with 32.
Benson also hauled in one pass for 13 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Josh Vasquez (Fr., Draper, Utah, Undecided) posted a team-best 10 tackles. Mason Wisse (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education) forced the lone Baker turnover and Kyle Baldassarre (Jr., Webb City, Mo., Industrial Technology) recovered the fumble.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. next Saturday to face Central Methodist in crossover action at 2 p.m.
