WPU Runs Past Graceland 31-17
William Penn Football 2015 (file photo)
Lamoni–Tyler Hafner (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Communications) and Nate Van Veldhuizen (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) rushed for nearly 200 yards each and the Statesmen football team set up a colossal season finale by defeating Graceland 31-17 in Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division action Saturday.
The win moves William Penn to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the North, but more importantly keeps the squad in contention for an at-large berth to the NAIA’s postseason. While still on the outside looking in, an upset of #4 Grand View (11 a.m. start) next Saturday and some other pieces falling into place could put the Statesmen in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. At the very least, WPU could earn a share of the North Division crown.
In addition to the normal viewing of William Penn home football games, ESPN3 and KSMO-TV (Kansas City) will also air the Rock and Ladder Trophy game.
After stopping the Yellowjackets on the Saturday’s opening drive, it took the navy and gold just one play to get on the board as Van Veldhuizen broke through the line and darted 84 yards for the touchdown.
The freshman would run 16 more times, finishing with 169 yards in the victory.
GU (3-7, 0-4 North) answered right back with a quick score of its own, but the next 17 points came via the visiting side. First, it was Hafner wrapping up the opening quarter scoring with a 40-yard dash of his own.
Jatavius Stewart (Rock Hill, S.C., Biology) then took a reversal to the house from 21 yards out midway through the second quarter as the Statesmen led 21-7 at intermission.
In a game that witnessed WPU outgain its host 535-354 (523 yards rushing), Samson Tamijani (Fr., Houston, Texas, Communications) tacked on a 21-yard field goal with 7:56 left in the third period.
William Penn had little trouble moving the ball Saturday with all but one of its 11 drives collecting at least 22 yards (all ended in Graceland territory), but finishing those possessions was an issue. The Statesmen gave the ball back twice in the first half deep on GU’s side of the field and then, after Tamijani’s field goal, had two more drives stall out on the opposite side of the 50.
The Yellowjackets took advantage of WPU’s troubles, managing 10 straight points before Hafner and Amos Johnson (So., Rock Island, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) took control. The duo combined for eight rushes in a 10-play, 60-yard possession that basically put the game on ice at 31-17 with 6:44 to go. Hafner, who had 175 yards on 19 rushes, eventually crossed the goal line from 13 yards out to extend the lead back to two TDs.
Johnson had 52 rushing yards and Aaron Osborne (Sr., Houston, Texas, Physical Education) added 54 yards.
The defense finished it off by permitting just one Graceland first down on its last two times with the pigskin. The unit was led by nine tackles from Keegan Murphy (Sr., Ark City, Kan., Physical Education) and Jake Baptiste (So., Salt Lake City, Utah, Psychology); Baptiste also recovered a fumble for Graceland’s lone giveaway. Isaac Samek (Sr., Bolivar, Mo., Industrial Technology) and Taylan Ybarra (Sr., Wellington, Kan., Education) combined for a quarterback sack as well.
“I am very proud of our players for bouncing back after a very tough loss last week,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “They are a resilient group of young men and have truly learned how to play one week at a time.”
“We can now shift our focus to next week and prepare for a very good Grand View team,” Hafner added. “One thing I do know is our kids will be prepared and will play their butts off!”
