WPU Falls at Benedictine
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Atchison, Kan.–The Statesmen football team played well for big chunks of Saturday’s game against #8 Benedictine, but the bad times were too much to overcome as William Penn lost 35-0 in Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division action.
WPU (3-6, 1-2 Heart), which was outgained just 350-278, failed to get on the board for the first time since 2012.
The visiting offense clicked on the ground, accumulating 253 yards en route 21 first downs and nearly 38 minutes of time of possession. Half of the Statesmen’s 10 drives crossed midfield, but none ended with points. Turnovers also plagued the navy and gold as they finished with four, while forcing only one by the Ravens (8-1, 3-0 Heart).
Neither side scored in a fairly uneventful first quarter that featured four punts and one stalled-out BC drive on WPU’s side of the ball. The hosts finally broke through, however, with 8:31 left until halftime and quickly doubled that advantage after obtaining possession via a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Three plays later, the Ravens led 14-0.
The Statesmen marched deep into Benedictine territory in the final seconds of the period, going 67 yards on 16 plays, but a throw was intercepted in the endzone as time expired and the two-score margin remained intact.
The situation did not improve for William Penn after intermission as its second and final fumble made another short field for Benedictine. The home team put the ball across the goal line on that drive and then twice more in the third stanza to cap the day’s scoring.
Fullbacks Ben Sherman (So., Troy, Pa., Elementary Education), with 84 yards, and Amos Johnson (Sr., Rock Island, Ill., Sports Administration), with 74 yards, again carried the brunt of the load offensively.
Kody Wilson (Fr., Edmond, Okla.)paced the defense with 10 tackles, while Anthony Jackson (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Physical Education) managed the squad’s lone sack. Rogan Pforts (So., Wapello, Iowa, Exercise Science) recovered the lone Statesmen takeaway.
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Saturday for Senior Day. The team hosts Graceland in Heart North Division action at noon.
