Senior course goes out with 71-6 thrashing of Graceland | Sports activities

OSKALOOSA — The Statesmen soccer closed out its 2021 time with a in the vicinity of history-breaking performance as it dominated Graceland 71-6 in Coronary heart of The united states Athletic Meeting North Division motion Saturday.

William Penn (3-8, 2-3 North), which outgained the Yellowjackets 450-126, tallied the next-most details in system historical past (history is 73) and posted the second-major margin of victory (file is 66).

WPU honored its 12-member senior course ahead of the contest and then quickly went to get the job done, taking the opening drive 54 yards on 7 performs for a 7- guide. One of the persons who was acknowledged in his very last collegiate match, Alex Crehan (Grad., Troy, Ill., Master’s of Business enterprise Leadership) broke free of charge and hit paydirt from 20 yards out for the initially landing. Crehan posted 42 rushing yards on the afternoon.

Not only was the offense on stage, the defense was also fantastic, recording again-to-back interceptions to get started the outing. The first came on the initially go for Graceland (-11, -5 North) as Jeremiah Flewellen (Fr., Fullerton, Calif., Political Science) ran the idea drill to perfection, choosing off a ball that deflected off the meant Yellowjacket receiver.

Regretably, the ball was returned appropriate back again to GU as Crehan hooked up with Gavin Rountree (Fr., Stephenville, Texas, Sporting activities Management) on a 45-yard move play, but a pair of ways right after pulling it in, he was stripped of the ball and Graceland returned it close to midfield.

The Yellowjacket’s ensuing possession was limited-lived, nevertheless, as an aforementioned 2nd interception was recorded, this time by Colton Horak (So., Crawfordsville, Iowa, Small business Administration). The return, which provided a lateral to Turner Ellis (Fr., Urbandale, Iowa, Secondary Education and learning), set the hosts in great subject place.

Two performs later on, Ben Sherman (Grad., Troy, Pa., Master’s of Sports Management) darted to the endzone on a 13-yard have to double the gain to 14-.

The Yellowjackets was able to notch a 1st down on their subsequent generate, but were again stopped before long thereafter. A significant dose of Statesmen dashing followed with Luke Masters (Sr., Branson, Mo., Secondary Instruction) getting in on the motion, using the pitch and clipping the touchdown pylon on a 24-garden scoring run and a 21- guide right after one quarter of participate in.

William Penn’s defense developed 5 takeaways Saturday, including Marquis Knighten (Sr., Buena Park, Calif., Digital Conversation) ripping the ball out of the GU ball carrier’s hands in the vicinity of midfield. Sherman did the bulk of the perform on the fourth scoring generate, but it was Crehan who set it across the objective line to make it 28-.

Sherman, who was injured on the engage in prior to the TD, returned to the sport on WPU’s future travel and bulldozed his way into the endzone from 20 yards absent for a excellent cap to a file-breaking occupation. He ran just 15 situations in the victory, but picked up 130 yards and departs the program as the occupation rushing leader with 3,874 yards. Sherman finished the 2021 campaign with a occupation-ideal 1,303 yards.

Horak then did what he does most effective and stepped in entrance of nevertheless a further Graceland pass, collecting his squad-higher fifth interception of the period. Archer Charles (Sr., Guntersville, Ala., Sports activities Management) shut out a euphoric very first half a handful of snaps down the road on a 6-garden rush for a 42- guide at intermission. Of William Penn’s 450 complete yards, 405 arrived on the ground.

With the match properly in hand, the seniors earned considerably-deserved ovations as they thrilled the contest at different junctures. The reserves took treatment of the activity from there, highlighted by the defense scoring 9 points in the next fifty percent. Seven of those points arrived as Ellis sacked the GU quarterback and forced a fumble, which D’Mauryon Hunter (So., Bolingbrook, Ill., Athletics Administration) scooped up and took 77 yards the other way for a 49- edge.

Next a Rodney Hall (Fr., Detroit, Mich., Psychology) four-property TD run, one more sack, this one particular by Flewellen and Nick Antonowich (Fr., Newton, Kan., Sports Management) in the endzone, gave the Statesmen a security and two far more points.

Brenden Phillips (So., Lawton, Okla., Biology) and Keegan Simmons (So., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Elementary Training), from 4 and 12 yards out, respectively, also recorded rushing touchdowns for the victors in the 2nd 50 percent.

Regretably, the shutout was denied as the Yellowjackets snuck in a long go enjoy in the waning minutes, but the six points had been continue to the lower-drinking water mark for WPU this drop and the fewest amount of money of details permitted considering that also allowing six to Graceland a yr ago.

A complete of 13 Statesmen ran the ball Saturday with Simmons’ 45 yards using the runner-up location on the checklist. Conner Hasz (Fr., Paola, Kan., Sociology), with 41, Masters, with 39, and Alex Jung (Sr., Fullerton, Calif., Work out Science), with 30, all eclipsed 30 yards as very well.

Defensively, Knighten and Rogan Pforts (Sr., Wapello, Iowa, Industrial Technology) both of those place a bow on their careers with 11 tackles apiece. Knighten experienced a single of the team’s 5 sacks, whilst William Penn concluded with 12 overall performs that resulted in a loss of yards for GU.

Austin Mixer (Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, Sociology) surpassed double figures in stops as perfectly with 10, while Jaden Curtis (Sr., Glendale, Ariz., Electronic Conversation) and Harlan Plumber (Jr., Bryan, Texas, Work out Science) notched 7 just about every as nicely.

“What a excellent day for our seniors,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “I am pleased they experienced the opportunity to go out on a profitable note. This has been a incredibly making an attempt calendar year for us and our group just held battling. They worked difficult and played just about every one 7 days via all kinds of adversity. We liked coaching these young guys and know they will be successful in no matter what they pick out to do. They will be fantastic husbands, fathers, and workforce/businesses. I am so really very pleased of this senior class.”