Football Game Notes: Week Three: Luther
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–William Penn looks to continue its perfect mark at Lacey Complex Stadium as it hosts Luther in non-conference action Saturday.
The #14-ranked Statesmen (2-0) will play the Norse (0-0) at 3 p.m. William Penn was 6-0 in its inaugural season at Lacey Complex Stadium in 2011.
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
SERIES HISTORY: William Penn is 13-26-1 all-time in its series against Luther. William Penn has, however, won two of the past three meetings, including taking last year’s contest 24-13.
Taylor Parsons (Jr., The Woodlands, Texas, College Park HS) left the game early with an injury, but the Statesmen stepped up under the direction of backup signal-caller Jacob Ballanger. He rushed for 83 yards and passed for a touchdown en route to a Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week award.
Chris Crawford (Sr., Muskegon, Mich., Grand Valley State) also returned a punt 49 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to gain MWL Special Teams POW honors. Joseph Frye (So., Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS) posted two second-half interceptions to highlight the defense.
The past ten games in this series:
1992–Luther, 42-7
1993–Luther, 14-0
1994–Luther, 21-0
1995–Luther, 28-7
1996–Luther, 41-0
1997–Luther, 24-13
1998–Luther, 31-24
1999–William Penn, 28-22
2000–Luther, 42-7
2011–William Penn, 24-13
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 had very little trouble with Bethel (Kan.) last week, claiming a 54-0 non-conference win. The offense (474 yards) and defense (49 yards allowed) both clicked at high levels.
Tye Sparks (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) was named MWL Offensive POW for his 22-carry, 139-yard, 2-TD performance. It was his first-ever action at the varsity level. Parsons also passed for 109 yards and a score that went to Chris Crawford (Sr., Muskegon, Mich., Grand Valley State).
The defense forced four turnovers, including Jacob Batterson (Jr., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) taking a fumble back 24 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. The win was bittersweet as Crawford suffered a leg injury that will end his collegiate playing career.
For the year, William Penn is averaging 46.5 points and 415.5 yards per game, including 361.0 rushing and 54.5 passing. The squad leads the NAIA in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game. The Statesmen also rank third in scoring.
Evan Ressler (So., Cascade, Cascade HS) leads the Statesmen offense with 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Three other players, including Sparks with 139 yards and two scores, are also over the century mark. Parsons ranks in the top ten nationally in total scoring (sixth, 18 points), while Ressler is tenth in rushing yards. Parsons is 6-of-17 for 109 yards and one TD, while Aaron Broyles (Jr., Escondido, Calif., Escondido Charter HS) leads the receivers with two catches, while Dalton Phelps (Sr., Tipton, Tipton HS) has 43 yards through the air.
Defensively, the Statesmen are giving up an average of 7.0 points and 153.5 yards, including 117.0 passing and 36.5 rushing. William Penn is strong nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (3rd), total yards allowed per game (4th), and points allowed per game (5th). Brock Peery (Jr., Payson, Utah, Payson HS) and Scott Adams (So., Park City, Utah, Park City HS) are the top tacklers for William Penn with 14 stops. Jason Johnson (Jr., Geneseo, Ill., Geneseo HS) has 1.5 sacks and Joseph Frye (So., Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS) has the only interception.
Marcus Kerrigan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove HS) is nearly perfect this year, going 9-of-10 in point-after-attempts and 2-of-2 in field goals. The junior, who ranks third in the NAIA in total scoring with 15 points, has a season-long field goal of 52 yards. He is also sixth in field goals made. The team is again utilizing a two-punter formation with Kerrigan and Johnson. Kerrigan has kicked three times for a clip of 35.3 yards, while Johnson has punted three times for a 26.0 yard average.
Sam Tvedt (So., Oskaloosa, Pella Christian HS) is topping the kick return game with four runbacks for a 17.2 average, while Joel Medina (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Canyons CC) has taken three punts back for a clip of 10.7 yards.
William Penn is picked to finish second in the Midwest League.
LUTHER PROFILE: Mike Durnin is in his fifth year as head football coach at Luther, owning an 18-23 career record. Prior to his head coaching stint, he spent seven years as an assistant coach at Wisconsin-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.
The Norse opened 2012 last weekend with a 28-23 loss to St. Olaf (Minn.). Luther led 17-7 entering the fourth quarter, but gave up 21 unaswered points to fall for the ninth-straight time to the Oles.
The team scored a touchdown late and recovered the ensuing onside kick, but the final drive stalled out near midfield. Luther outgained St. Olaf 396-311 with a balanced attack (210 passing yards, 186 rushing yards). Kody Moore completed 25-of-35 passes for 210 yards, while Dan Ridenour picked up 71 yards on the ground. Zach Jipp hauled in eight passes for 63 yards and a score, while Adam Bohr notched 75 yards on four receptions.
The defense, led by James Knutson’s eight tackles, sacked the Ole quarterback five times. Trent Kerrigan and JJ Sirios each intercepted a pass. St. Olaf picked up 241 yards through the air in addition to 70 on the ground.
Donny Norlander punted six times for a 31.8 average, while Seth Streeter connected on a 26-yard field goal. The Norse did not return a kickoff, but Sirios had five punt returns for 30 yards.
Luther is picked to finish seventh in the eight-team IIAC.
COACH HAFNER SAYS: On the Bethel (Kan.) game: “I thought the Bethel game did us a lot of good. We are still making some silly errors on offense, but our defense and special teams were both really good. We also had the opportunity to see our young players play quite a few snaps. It is always fun to see some of those kids play in their first game.”
On Luther: “Luther will be the best team we have played to date. They have a great scheme on offense and defense and will create many challenges for our team. We will again have to play at a high level in order to be successful.”
