William Penn Football Game Notes: Week One: Bethel (Tenn.)
William Penn University Head Coach Todd Hafner leads his team to the field at Homecoming 2012.
Oskaloosa–A top-25 battle gets the ball rolling in a grueling 2013 slate as the William Penn football team hits the road to face #9 Bethel (Tenn.) in non-conference action.
The 16th-ranked Statesmen (0-0) travel to McKenzie, Tenn. for a noon kickoff against the Wildcats (0-0) in Wildcat Stadium.
STATESMEN BROADCASTING: Saturday’s game can be followed on the radio (740 AM) and on the internet at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/kboe.portal
SERIES HISTORY: William Penn and Bethel (Tenn.) have never before met on the gridiron.
WILLIAM PENN PROFILE: Todd Hafner is in his tenth year as head football coach at William Penn, entering this fall with a 61-40 career record.
Hafner, who became the program’s all-time winningest coach last fall, guided William Penn to 28 wins over the last three years. The Statesmen led the NAIA in rushing all three regular seasons. William Penn shared the Midwest League crown in 2010 and 2012.
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 in 2010. As skipper, he has produced 139 all-conference players and 14 All-Americans.
Hafner graduated from Pittsburg State in 1994.
William Penn ended its 37-year playoff drought last fall, but its return to the postseason was a short one with a 31-0 loss to Saint Xavier in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.
The Cougars outgained WPU 496-233, but could not pull away until late as they only scored on two of six trips to the red zone.
With starter Taylor Parsons (Sr., The Woodlands, Texas, Sociology) out due to injury, backup Tyler Hafner (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Undecided) led the navy and gold with 133 yards through the air on 10-of-27 passing. Dalton Phelps led the rushing attack with 54 yards.
Jacob Batterson (Sr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) paced the defense with 15 tackles, while Scott Adams (Jr., Park City, Utah, Sociology) added 12 stops.
For the 2012 season, William Penn averaged 30.0 points and 361.5 yards per game, including 302.5 rushing and 59.0 passing. The squad was second in the NAIA in total rushing yards (3,630) and was third in rushing yards per game.
Parsons led the Statesmen offense with 791 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Seven other players, including Evan Ressler (Jr., Cascade, Iowa, Physical Education) with 698 yards and nine scores, were also over the century mark.
Parsons was 31-of-80 in the passing game, accounting for 490 yards and three TDs. Aaron Broyles (Sr., Escondido, Calif., Physical Education) had 14 receptions, while Ed Cazenave collected 237 yards on the receiving end.
William Penn committed 16 turnovers during the season.
Defensively, the Statesmen gave up an average of 14.8 points and 317.5 yards, including 184.2 passing and 133.3 rushing. William Penn was fifth nationally in points allowed per game.
Adams headlined William Penn with 90 tackles. Nick DiMarco (So., St. Charles, Mo., Physical Education) had a team-best 6.5 sacks (14.5 tackles for loss), while Andrew Reed recorded four interception. The Statesmen forced 33 turnovers.
Kerrigan went 33-of-39 in point-after-attempts and 12-of-14 in field goals. He ranked sixth in the nation in field goal percentage (85.7%) and tenth in total field goals.
The team again utilized a two-punter, rugby-style formation with Kerrigan and Jason Johnson (Sr., Geneseo, Ill., Industrial Technology) doing most of the work. Kerrigan had 23 punts for a 40.0 yard average, while Johnson kicked 11 times for a clip of 36.7 yards.
Jacob Batterson (Sr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) took ten kickoffs back for an average of 22.6 yards (long of 51 yards), while Joel Medina had seven punt returns for a clip of 11.4 yards (long of 40 yards).
William Penn, which is picked to finish third in the MWL, had 20 all-league selections in 2012, including three first-teamers.
BETHEL (TENN.) PROFILE: Chris Elliott is in his second year as head football coach at Bethel (Tenn.), entering this fall with a 9-4 record.
The Mid-South Conference West Division Coach of the Year last season, he led the Wildcats to the league title and an appearance in the NAIA Football Championships Series. The squad upset #1 Georgetown (Ky.) in the first round before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
Elliott has served in many capacities at Bethel, helping the program to five conference crowns and four playoff showings.
A graduate of St. Francis (Pa.) in 1997, he earned his Master’s of Arts in Education degree from Bethel in 2005.
The Wildcats had a seven-game winning streak snapped, but more importantly had their 2012 season come to a close in a 10-7 loss to Missouri Valley in the quarterfinals of the NAIA FCS last November.
Despite outgaining the Vikings 439-259 (season low for MVC), Bethel could not advance due to three missed opportunities inside the MVC five-yard line.
Will Massoud completed 26-of-39 passes for 343 yards and a late score. He hooked up with ten different receivers, including six times for 110 yards to Jahron Reynolds. Travis Smith tallied 15 rushes for 66 yards.
Joey Dienye notched six tackles to pace the defense.
For the 2012 season, Bethel averaged 32.8 points and 409.7 yards per game, including 213.1 rushing and 196.6 passing. The Wildcats ranked seventh in the NAIA in total rushing (2,770) and ninth in total scoring (426).
Massoud topped the offense by completing 168-of-278 passes for 2,186 yards and 18 touchdowns. Seven receivers surpassed the century mark, including Reynolds with 35 grabs for 499 yards. Justin Brandy added 32 receptions for 530 yards and six scores.
Cordarious Mann paced the ground attack with 1,061 yards and ten scores, while three others also finished with over 100 yards.
Defensively, the Wildcats gave up an average of 28.8 points and 379.8 yards, including 201.4 passing and 178.4 rushing.
Adam Funk had a squad-best 96 tackles. Jocquel Skinner and Stoney Burns each intercepted five passes.
Robby Phillips was 47-of-53 in extra points and 5-of-14 in field goals. Matt Kramer also punted 42 times for a 35.4 average (long of 53).
The best individual on the team is likely in the return game as Reynolds returned 26 kickoffs for an average of 33.5 yards (two scores). He also took 14 punts back for a clip of 18.1 yards (long of 55 yards). He ranked second in the NAIA in both kickoff return average and total kickoff return yards (872). Reynolds is also seventh in total punt return yards (253).
Bethel (Tenn.), which tied for first in the MSC West Division’s preseason poll, had 13 all-league selections in 2012, including eight first-teamers.
COACH HAFNER SAYS: On the Preseason: “Overall we feel that our preseason practices went well. We were able to build on what we accomplished in the spring and take some steps to make us better.”
On Bethel: “Bethel is a very well-coached, athletic football team. They are ranked as high as they are for a reason. Offensively, they have a very good scheme and they really fly to the ball on defense. They also have one of the best returners in the NAIA. We will have to be very sound in all aspects. We have to make sure we do not turn it over and we must get some takeaways ourselves.”
On Starting the Season: “Our kids are ready for a game. Everything is starting a week later than normal so it seems like we have been practicing forever. Our leaders have stepped up, though, and have done an outstanding job of getting this team focused.”
SATURDAY’S TWO-DEEPS:
WILLIAM PENN OFFENSE
QB
6-Taylor Parsons, 6-0, 195, Sr.
12-Tyler Hafner, 6-2, 194, So.
RB
30-Sam Tvedt, 5-9, 200, Jr.
37-Nathan Tvedt, 5-11, 170, So.
RB
27-Larry Reed, 5-11, 210, So.
40-Brian Bahrs, 5-8, 180, Fr.
FB
33-Shawn Davis, 5-10, 205, Sr.
2-Evan Ressler, 5-11, 210, Jr.
WR
5-Chris Crawford, 6-0, 165, Sr.
29-Kramer Patterson, 6-1, 194, So.
WR
8-Aaron Broyles, 6-3, 190, Sr.
88-Desmond Douglas, 5-10, 170, Fr.
TE
4-Greg Beatty, 6-4, 255, Jr.
25-Clint Allen, 6-1, 227, Jr.
RT
72-J.T. Dotson, 6-2, 267, So.
78-Daniel Surfass, 6-3, 240, So.
RG
65-Jarrett Rogers, 6-3, 298, So.
62-Cory Minnie, 6-2, 280, Jr.
C
50-Hea Tuifua, 6-0, 275, So.
54-Kalob Gist, 6-2, 280, So.
LG
53-Jake Adams, 6-3, 270, Jr.
76-Ricky Corcoran, 6-2, 270, Sr.
LT
75-Travis Blecher, 6-3, 290, So.
74-Ryan Westmoreland, 6-3, 249, So.
K
16-Marcus Kerrigan, 6-0, 180, Sr.
HOLDER
12-Tyler Hafner, 6-2, 194, So.
KR
10-Freddy Griggs, 5-11, 190, Jr.
17-Jacob Batterson, 5-10, 187, Sr.
PR
30-Sam Tvedt, 5-9, 200, Jr.
5-Chris Crawford, 6-0, 165, Sr.
WILLIAM PENN DEFENSE
DE
14-Nick DiMarco, 6-3, 240, Jr.
11-Alvin Reels, 6-1, 210, So.
NT
93-Trae Nichols, 6-2, 270, Fr.
99-Malik Young, 6-2, 357, Fr.
DT
44-Micheal Welch, 5-11, 275, Sr.
92-Tyler Fellows, 6-1, 265, Sr.
DE
35-Jason Johnson, 6-1, 220, Sr.
98-Clayton Temaat, 6-3, 240, So.
OLB
57-Brock Peery, 6-3, 210, Sr.
24-Austin Cox, 5-8, 178, Fr.
MLB
55-Scott Adams, 5-11, 220, Jr.
42-Isaac Samek, 6-0, 200, So.
OLB
28-Kevin Shrauger, 5-10, 198, So.
7-Jaysen Adams, 5-10, 180, So.
CB
23-Cameron Penny, 5-9, 165, So.
13-Keshon Cowan, 5-11, 170, Jr.
FS
17-Jacob Batterson, 5-10, 187, Sr.
21-Deshon Conley, 6-2, 188, Jr.
SS
10-Freddy Griggs, 5-11, 190, Jr.
21-Deshon Conley, 6-2, 188, Sr.
CB
1-Joseph Frye, 6-2, 200, Jr.
3-Je’Rodd Barnaba, 5-8, 158, So.
PUNTER
16-Marcus Kerrigan, 6-0, 180, Sr.
35-Jason Johnson, 6-1, 220, Sr.
LONGSNAPPER
27-Larry Reed, 5-11, 210, Jr.
BETHEL (TENN.) OFFENSE
QB
16-B.J. Robertson
9-Kerry Sellers II
RB
31-Travis Smith
25-Jaquell Fitts
28-Torey Watson
42-Devan Raymer
FB
44-Tyler Pittman
32-Jerome Jones
WR
88-Keenan Nance
5-Justin Hazelray
WR
11-Travonta Thomas
4-Jahron Reynolds
TE
84-Emmitt Martin
82-Chad Dye
LT
56-Connor Sabolic
63-Brandon West
LG
60-Nick Allen
73-Jarrison English
C
71-John Ilaria
53-Taylor Ballagh
RG
69-Dedrick Brooks
55-Levi Estes
RT
77-Wilson Emebunor, Jr.
61-Parker Rentz
K
43-Juan Hernandez
26-Robby Phillips
KR
4-Jahron Reynolds
1-Stoney Burns
PR
4-Jahron Reynolds
22-Terentez Vestal
BETHEL (TENN.) DEFENSE
DL
91-Damani Taylor
58-Ricky Hann
DL
33-Jerry Bradford
93-Dominick Glenn
DL
90-Joey Dienye
94-Darren Brackbill
LB
11-Terrance Thomas
39-Keewyn Pressley
LB
52-Anthony Debonis
54-Dustin Kincaid
LB
47-Tyler Murray
34-Vic Czyzewski
LB
14-Brenton Davis
3-DeSean Gibson
DB
1-Stoney Burns
22-Terentez Vestal
DB
21-Marcus Thornton
23-Jeremy Williams
DB
8-Darian Jones
15-Edmar Dos Santos
DB
2-Jocquel Skinner
6-Romonn Lumpkin
PUNTER
26-Robby Phillips
LONGSNAPPER
30-Josh Wilson
