Ground Game, Turnovers Lead to 42-6 Win Over Graceland
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Lamoni–The William Penn football team secured a winning season Saturday with a 42-6 Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division victory over Graceland.
WPU (6-4, 2-2 Heart) outgained the Yellowjackets (1-9, 0-4 Heart) by a 404-178 tally, including posting 376 rushing yards. The visitors also forced all four of the game’s turnovers; the Statesmen scored off of three of those takeaways.
The triumph gives William Penn its fourth-consecutive winning campaign; it is WPU’s ninth such season in the last 10 years.
After shutting GU down on three straight plays to open the matchup, William Penn moved into Yellowjacket territory on its first drive, but came up empty on a missed field goal. It would prove to be the only unsuccessful redzone trip for the squad in seven tries.
The team’s next possession ended in the endzone. After Josh Vasquez (So., Draper, Utah, Undecided) intercepted a pass, the offense executed a nine-play, 72-yard drive that was capped by a 14-yard scoring run by Ben Sherman (Fr., Troy, Pa., Elementary Education).
Graceland’s ensuing drive stalled out in WPU’s redzone and then the navy and gold doubled the advantage with another long march. Sherman once again pounded the ball across the goal line from 14 yards away as the visiting squad went up 14-0 early in the second quarter. The freshman finished with 93 yards on the ground.
Helped by a 26-yard punt return from Jeremiah Benson (So., Kansas City, Mo., Physical Education), the Statesmen started their next possession inside the opposition’s redzone at the GU 19-yard line. Five plays later, Brandon Polito (Sr., St. Louis, Psychology), who tallied 43 rushing yards Saturday, hit paydirt on a two-yard plunge and William Penn went into halftime up 21-0.
Another interception–this one by Winston Green (Sr., Sacramento, Calif., Psychology & Sociology)–set up WPU to get things rolling in the third stanza. The Statesmen would go to the air for their fourth touchdown as Tyler Wood (So., Newton, Iowa, Education) found Trey Bennett (Jr., Plattsburg, Mo., History/Government) for a 13-yard score. Wood completed two of his three passes for 28 yards.
The next play from scrimmage witnessed the defense stepping up for another takeaway as Resean Coleman (So., River Rouge, Mich., Exercise Science) stripped the pigskin and the ball was recovered by Mason Wisse (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education) deep on the home team’s side of the field.
Wood used his legs for his second TD, going in from one yard away. The sophomore recorded 44 rushing yards Saturday. The Yellowjackets scored to open the final period, but Cooper answered with a one-yard touchdown dive to conclude the game’s scoring.
Rashaad Ollie (Fr., Foley, Ala., Sports Management) added a late interception–his fourth of the year–to join Vasquez and Green.
Although he did not manage a touchdown, Nate Van Veldhuizen (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) was William Penn’s workhorse, running 23 times for 117 yards.
In addition to his interception, Vasquez guided the defense with seven tackles.
The Statesmen spent plenty of time in the GU backfield with eight tackles for loss, including five sacks. Cooper Gosch (Jr., Reeds Springs, Okla., Education) had two sacks, while Coleman and Anthony Jackson (Jr., Detroit, Mich., Physical Education) each had one solo sack and shared another.
“I am very proud of our players for their effort today,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “After two tough losses, we battled all week and came out ready to play. We finished plays and drives, and played hard all the way through the end. We will enjoy the win tonight and then get ready to win back the Rock and Ladder trophy.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Saturday to host #6 Grand View in North Division play at noon. The Rock and Ladder Game will also serve as Senior Day.
