Statesmen Upended by Central Methodist
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Fayette, Mo.–The William Penn football team was denied time and time again as it fell 20-13 to Central Methodist in a Heart of America Athletic Conference North-South Crossover game Saturday.
The Statesmen (2-3) scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions, but were blanked on their final 12 as they were also outgained 389-228.
CMU (2-2), which also started hot and then cooled off abruptly, opened the day’s scoring with a touchdown. The visitors answered right back as a one-yard plunge by Tyler Wood (Jr., Newton, Iowa, Education) capped a nine-play, 56-yard scoring drive; the extra point was unfortunately blocked and WPU trailed 7-6 after one quarter of action.
Following a defensive stop, WPU’s offense went back to work, marching 70 yards over 15 snaps to capture the lead for the first and only time during the night at 13-7. Wood, who rushed for 34 yards, again finished the possession with a one-yard TD run.
The Eagles immediately responded to knot up the contest (extra point blocked), and then a blocked punt set up a short field. Central Methodist did not waste the golden opportunity and reached the endzone again for a 20-13 advantage midway through the second quarter.
Then suddenly, without warning, both defenses took control with 22, yes 22, consecutive stops. Some were simple three-and-outs and some ended more heroically.
William Penn’s offense sputtered for the most part, but the silver lining was that it only turned over the pigskin once. Additionally, its defense bent, but did not break for well over two periods.
The first half concluded with a blocked field goal by Darrick Harris (Sr., Oak Park, Mich., Biology) and then with its backs against the wall early in the third quarter, WPU forced a fumble and Rashaad Ollie (So., Foley, Ala., Sports Management) recovered it inside his team’s 10-yard line.
Ollie rose to the occasion yet again in the same third period, intercepting a CMU pass as WPU remained within one score of the hosts. Unfortunately, the offense never was able to start the motor again.
The Eagles had chances to put the game away in the waning minutes, but an interception by Narada Poole (Fr., Iowa City, Iowa, Undecided) ended one drive and a tackle by Jaidin Fletcher (Jr., Upland, Calif., Information Technology) on fourth-and-two at the Statesmen six-yard line gave William Penn one final shot to come away with the W.
The navy and gold were forced to go the entire length of the field in just over two minutes, a near-Herculean task for a run-oriented offense. The Statesmen slowly chipped away at the yardage, and even had help by their opponent with a drive-saving penalty on fourth down. Eventually, however, the possession stalled out at the CMU 30-yard line to end the rally.
Ben Sherman (Fr., Troy, Pa., Elementary Education) topped William Penn with 66 rushing yards, while Grant Smallwood (Sr., Wichita, Kan., Exercise Science) added 40 more. Wood also completed six of his 16 passes for 41 yards.
Defensively, Mason Wisse (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education), who forced a fumble, also guided WPU with 10 tackles, while Fletcher and Jalan Cooper (Jr., Houston, Texas) had nine each. Anthony Jackson (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Physical Education) managed the program’s lone sack of the night.
Headlined by a 70-yard boot, Kane Brumbaugh (Fr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Sports Management) helped his side in the field position battle with a punt average of 42.9 over eight attempts.
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Saturday to host #10 Evangel in the final Heart North-South Crossover game of the year at noon.
