Avila Knocks off Ranked Kansas Wesleyan in Salina

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Sunday, October 09, 2022 – 02:30 PM

SALINA, Kan. – For the second time in three seasons, a nationally unranked Avila soccer crew headed west to Salina for a showdown in opposition to a ranked Kansas Wesleyan squad. And for the second time in three seasons, the Eagles (5-1, 5-1 KCAC) scored a serious upset over the Coyotes (4-2, 4-2 KCAC) with an 18-14 victory on Saturday afternoon on the energy of one more dominant defensive exhibiting by the Eagles.

The all-time collection between these two convention rivals has been suffering from offensive shootouts and shut video games: within the earlier 4 matchups, the successful crew scored at the very least 30 factors and the top end result was determined by ten factors or fewer. The 2022 version was one other tight contest however, this time, the defenses reigned supreme: each groups scored their fewest factors of the season, and Avila’s offense took full benefit of the alternatives supplied by the protection to create the ultimate margin of victory.

In reality, the Eagles adopted the very same sport script twice to supply all of their factors Saturday: the Avila particular groups pinned Kansas Wesleyan inside its personal 5 yard line, the protection earned a security, the return sport arrange store in good discipline place, and the offense transformed the possibility right into a landing. On a day the place the groups’ defenses mixed to attain 11 of the 32 whole factors, the Eagles by far showcased the superior execution in handing their ranked rivals their second lack of the season.

Avila freshman punter Gary Elder picked a good time for the perfect sport of his younger profession. After each groups started the afternoon with three-and-outs, Elder’s first punt of the afternoon bounced again on the KWU 4 yard line, pinning the Coyotes again deep. Defensive coordinator Charles Alexander despatched stress and the Eagles acquired dwelling instantly: Coyote quarterback Tony White ran proper into Donavaughn Turner and a bunch of different Eagles in the long run zone for a security and the sport’s first factors.

Then the Avila offense went to work. KWU punted to renew play after the protection and JaQuez Snell returned it as much as the 28. Eli Williams was masterful on the drive, changing two third downs along with his toes, earlier than narrowly turning a play that would have been a sack on the midfield line right into a 22-yard achieve on first and 20. One play later, Williams linked up with Robert Brooks III on a deep in for a 15-yard rating, giving the Eagles a 9-0 with 5:19 left within the first quarter.

However Kansas Wesleyan wasn’t ranked within the NAIA’s High 15 for no purpose. Nonetheless trailing 9-0 initially of the second quarter, the Coyotes discovered the top zone twice within the first three minutes of the interval, as soon as on a 16-yard go from White to Paden Hazuga, after which once more minutes in a while a pick-six of Williams by Shaun Browder. Ke’Tron Jones intercepted White in the long run zone late within the second quarter and there was no additional change in rating: Kansas Wesleyan headed to halftime up 14-9.

Neither offense was capable of transfer the ball a lot within the third quarter – each groups traded punts early earlier than KWU tried to run it on fourth and one, just for Mark Benjamin to be stood up on the line by Ishe Smith for a turnover on downs. The Eagles couldn’t convert a 3rd and lengthy, however Elder as soon as once more stepped as much as ship a punt that was marked down contained in the one yard line of Kansas Wesleyan. As soon as once more, the Eagle protection went to work. New KWU quarterback Richard Lara handed off to Nick Allsman on second down from the objective line and the Eagles had been there instantly, with Smith main the pack for the crew’s second security of the afternoon.

And as soon as once more, the Eagle offense took full benefit of the chance. Jecori Johnson returned the following kick to the Avila 47 and a Coyote penalty pushed Avila’s beginning discipline place throughout midfield. Sensing the significance of the scenario, Avila head coach Marc Benavidez elected to go for it on fourth and 4 from round midfield and Loagnn Freeman delivered an important nine-yard reception to maneuver the chains. Three performs later, Brooks beat his defender in one-on-one protection on the appropriate sideline and caught his second landing of the day, this from 22 yards out, to place Avila again in entrance 18-14 with 13:32 to play in regulation.

That might be all for the scoring, however it will not be all for the intrigue. KWU acquired as shut because the Avila 27 however Terrell Valentine broke up a go on third down earlier than Lara misfired on fourth down for one more turnover on downs, giving Avila the ball again with about 5 minutes to play and a four-point lead.  Now needing merely to bleed time, Avila relied closely on senior working again Malik Nesbitt, who carried the ball six instances on Avila’s ultimate possession alone, together with as soon as for an 18-yard pickup on first down. A Williams-to-Andrew Williams go on third down proved essential, as did an unlawful contact penalty in opposition to the Coyotes after Eli Williams was stopped within the backfield on third down – that gave the Eagles a primary down with the clock ticking, and all Williams needed to do was kneel it as soon as to protect Avila’s 18-14 victory over the crew ranked #15 within the NAIA polls.

The win unquestionably is Avila’s greatest for the reason that final time they defeated Kansas Wesleyan in Salina in 2020. The Coyotes had been ranked sixth within the nation then, and that win helped propel the Eagles to a share of their first ever KCAC championship. Now, regardless of Avila’s loss to Southwestern earlier this season, the Eagles’ bid for one more potential KCAC title is alive and nicely. Subsequent, the Eagles will face what is probably going their ultimate massive take a look at of the common season at dwelling at The Z subsequent Saturday when Bethel, which defeated Southwestern Saturday night time, involves Kansas Metropolis in sole possession of first place within the convention. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM; as at all times, you possibly can watch all of the motion on the Avila Sports activities Community with Joe Van Amburg on the decision.

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