WPU Collects Third Straight in Rolling Avila 65-30
William Penn University Football
Kansas City, Mo.–Winston Green (Jr., Sacramento, Calif., Psychology and Sociology) returned two interceptions for touchdowns and the offense rushed for a season-high 462 yards as the Statesmen dominated Avila 65-30 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference crossover win Saturday.
William Penn (3-3) finished North-South crossover action with its third win in a row. The squad will now have a week off, returning to action on October 15 for its North Division opener at home against #22 Peru State. The Homecoming matchup will begin at 1 p.m.
WPU was outgained 481-474, but it was of little consequence as the visitors dominated from the near start. The Statesmen failed to get a first down on their opening drive and then the Eagles (0-6) pushed into navy and gold territory. On the third play of AU’s drive, though, Green stepped in front of the pass, picked it off, and returned the pigskin 85 yards untouched for the game’s first points.
The hosts answered back with a field goal, but then Eric Cooper (Jr., Aguanga, Calif., Human Services) capped off a quick response for WPU with a seven-yard scoring run. The junior only rushed eight times, but paced the victors with 115 yards and a pair of TDs.
Avila pulled within single digits one more time at 14-10 with a touchdown of its own, but it would be the last time the home team was that close. The second quarter was dominated by William Penn, beginning with Jake De Hamer (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) crossing the goal line from two yards out. Amos Johnson (Jr., Rock Island, Ill., Mechanical Engineering), who managed 76 yards, also hit paydirt on an eight-yard rush.
AU made the score a bit tighter with another touchdown, but WPU had the last laugh on the drive as Dajon Shaw (So., Highland Park, Mich., Undecided) blocked the extra point and took it all the way back for two points and a 30-16 Statesmen edge.
Nate Van Veldhuizen (Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) then concluded the 37-point first half with a one-yard touchdown carry.
Carl Sivels (Jr., Washington, Iowa, Physical Education) added to the touchdown party to start the third period before Green starred on defense yet again. This time the outside linebacker’s interception was taken back 61 yards for the touchdown celebration. He has now returned three interceptions for touchdowns in the past two weeks, tying the school record for defensive TDs in a season (since 2001). WPU led 51-23 entering the final quarter.
The contest wrapped up with touchdown runs by Cooper and Brandon Brown (So., St. Louis, Mo., Business Management). Although he did not score, Michael Watt (So., Terre Haute, Ind., Business Management) did post a 65-yard run that set up Brown’s TD.
Desmond Douglas (Sr., Decatur, Ala., Physical Education) was on the other side of the offensive attack, hauling in both of Cooper’s completions for a total of 12 yards.
Cooper Gosch (So., Reeds Springs, Okla., Education) guided the defense with 10 tackles, while Kyle Baldassarre (Jr., Webb City, Mo., Industrial Technology) also intercepted a pass.
“Today was a really good day,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “Right now, our guys are complementing each other and really playing well. We will go into the bye week feeling good about where we are. We would like to have a couple more wins, but we are proud of our team and the way everyone has rebounded. We will take this upcoming week to heal a bit and get ourselves ready for a run in the North.”
