WPU Misses on Chances as Season Closes with Turnover-Plagued, Low-Scoring Affair
Oskaloosa, Iowa – November 11: during a NAIA men’s college football matchup between the William Penn University Statesmen and the Graceland University Yellowjackets at Statesmen Community Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Marcus Davis/William Penn Athletics)
William Penn (4-6, 2-3 North) dropped the defensive battle that saw the sides combine for 10 turnovers and 10 punts.
The hosts, who were narrowly outgained 284-278, forced a fumble by the Yellowjackets (6-5, 3-2 North) deep in WPU territory on the opening drive.
After fumbling on their own side of the field later in the first quarter, the Statesmen again came up with a stop of Graceland. Then, near the end of the opening stanza, Isaiah Isidore (Fr., Tampa, Fla., Business Management) picked off a pass, setting up the home crew in visitor territory. Unfortunately, a field-goal try was blocked to keep the game scoreless.
Five combined punts followed before the Statesmen, who were about to make it six punts in a row, earned a new set of downs on a Yellowjacket penalty. The navy and gold took advantage, marching all the way into GU’s redzone, but William Penn threw an interception in the endzone in the final minute of the first half.
Things shockingly got exponentially worse just a few seconds later. Graceland pushed the pigskin to midfield over the next few plays before airing out a Hail Mary as time expired and the ball was pulled down by the Yellowjackets as WPU entered the locker room trailing 7-0.
The Statesmen stayed within one score early in the third stanza with another denial of GU in William Penn’s redzone.
The low-scoring affair continued with WPU throwing a pair of interceptions on offense, but the defense coming up huge with yet another goal-line stop.
The good vibes did not last long after that as Graceland posted a sack in William Penn’s endzone for a safety, pushing its advantage to 9-0 with 3:53 left in the third.
The visitors then took the ensuing kickoff and tacked on another touchdown to lead 15-0 less than two minutes later (missed two-point conversion).
Headlined by a 36-yard pass play from Sterling Ramsey II (So., Broken Arrow, Okla., Business Management) to Destynd Loring (So., Charleston, S.C., Sports Management), WPU finally broke through with an eight-play, 81-yard scoring drive. Later in the possession, Loring darted across the goal line from nine yards away to trim the deficit to eight at 15-7 with 13:56 still remaining in regulation.
Ramsey II completed 14 of his 28 passes for 141 yards, but unfortunately tossed a trio of picks. Loring was the offense’s MVP with 15 rushes for 73 yards, while also catching three passes for 62 yards.
The hosts kept the pressure on by forcing two more turnovers, including a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff and a Howard Huerta (Jr., Panorama City, Calif., Business Management) interception. Neither drive finished with points, however, and GU closed out the afternoon with a lengthy last possession that milked the final 8:32 off the clock.
Harlan Plumber (Sr., Bryan, Texas, Exercise Science) was again dialed in defensively with 13 tackles (10 solos) and a forced fumble, while Turner Ellis (Grad., Urbandale, Iowa, Master’s of Sports Management) was next with seven stops, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage.
David Campbell (So., Miami Gardens, Fla., Sports Management), who managed a fumble recovery, posted one-and-a-half sacks, while Brian Weatherspoon (Fr., West Memphis, Ark., Business Management) had one; Kyriee Lewis (Jr., Eight Mile, Ala., Sports Management) shared a sack with Campbell as well.
Donavin Brewer (So., Marion, Ark., Business Management) and Jhquan Bass (Sr., Cordelle, Ga., Sports Management) also each forced a fumble in Saturday’s loss.
“This was a tough way to go out,” Head Coach Marc Benavidez said. “I am extremely proud and grateful to our seniors who bought in from the jump and consistently put effort into what we are trying to build in the program. The season had a lot of ups and downs and growing pains, but those guys kept pushing through.”
“I cannot overstate how appreciative my wife and I are with the support we have received from the school and community this year,” Benavidez added. “Our players have been battle-tested. Now it is time to develop our young men and go out and recruit.”
