Game Information
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GAME INFORMATION OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY STORYLINES GAME FOCUS Much to play for In The Tigers’ four wins in 2016, they held opponents to only 14.5 points per The 2017 version of ONU Football enters the season with a bright outlook. After game, 16 less than their season average. Compared to their seven losses, which finishing 4-7 in 2016, the Tigers enter the season opener following a four or more they allowed 40.3 points per game. At the same time, the Tiger defense only win season for the first time since 2011. ONU also won two games in the always allowed 98.8 yards per game on the ground in four wins and in seven defeats tough MSFA Midwest League for the first time in three seasons and has set their they gave up 192.2 yards per game. ONU returns their top two tacklers from a sights on bettering that record in 2017. Head coach Eric Hehman is now in his season ago, linebackers, Caleb Coe (121) and Sebastian Swift (70). Also, the second season and has the Tigers moving in the right direction after winning team-leader in sacks a year ago, defensive lineman, Raja Burt returns for his three of their final six games last season. He has a team that returns eight with junior season. GAMEDAY offensive starting experience and six on the defensive side of the ball. In four wins they averaged 171.5 rushing yards per game, which would have The Tigers are trying to win a season opener for the second time in three been fifth-best in the MSFA. In seven losses, the Tigers only rushed for 100.6 seasons. Yet, ONU welcomes an opponent tonight, Kansas Wesleyan, who also yards per game, which would be 11th-best in the league. The Tigers return senior August 26, 2017 has much to play for coming off a nine-win season. ONU’s longest win streak in runningback, Erik Anderson, who started all 11 games last season. He was the season openers is three seasons (1988-1990). second-leading rusher for ONU, gaining 454 yards on 89 carries and led the team with five rushing touchdowns. He also caught 23 balls and two touchdowns. First for everything ONU’s opponent today, Kansas Wesleyan University, is one the Tigers have nev- Balance was the name of the game for Kansas Wesleyan and their success a er played in the 42-year history of program. Today’s season opener features the year ago. The Coyotes nearly averaged the exact same yards per game rushing No. 20 ranked team in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll. Kansas Wesleyan enters (222.5) as they did passing (225.8). The rushed the ball 515 times compared to the 2017 season after finishing 2016 with a 9-2 record. The are the defending only 348 pass attemptes and scored nine more times on the ground (31) than Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champions, finishing with a 7-2 record. through the air (22). KWU was second in the conference in yards per game The KCAC has four teams ranked entering the season. The Coyotes return 10 (448.4). Their offensive potency contributed to them scoring 34.9 points per starters on both sides of the ball including their quarterback, Wesley Geisler. game (second-best in KCAC) compared to only 26.6 to their opponents. Olivet scored a little over 20 points per game in 2016. PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Jordan Lawton (SO) Lawton will start his sophomore campaign after starting under center for all 11 games as a freshman. He threw for 2,215 yards (168-for-308) and 19 touchdowns. He also ran for 112 yards and one score. Lawon had a year that a Tiger quarterback had not had for over a decade. His passing yards total was the most since 2005 and he threw for the most touchdowns for a Tiger quarterback in over 20 years. He finished third among MSFA Midwest leaders in passing yards per game (201.4) and had the fourth-most touchdowns in the league. He had a career-high four touchdowns against Missouri Baptist on Oct. 15 of last season, throwing for 292 yards, also a career high. LB Sebastian Swift (SR) Through the first six games of the 2016 season, the Tigers’ outside linebacker was averaging over 10 tackles per game (11.7) before his season was cut short due to injury. Swift still finished his junior season with 70 tackles (45 solo), giving him 164 total in his career. Swift recorded a career-high 18 tackles against Taylor (Ind.) on Sept. 24. Two weeks prior he finished with 13 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack, each for seven yards.The effort earned his MSFA Midwest League Defense Player of the Week honors. He went on to be named MSFA Midwest Second Team All-Defense for the second straigt season. QB Wesley Geisler (JR) The Coyote play-caller played in 10 games as a sophomore and returns for his junior season. He had an outstanding 2016 season throwing for 2,061 yards (145-for-275) and 17 touchdowns, compared to only four interceptions, while running for 287 yards and one score. His 206.1 yards per game through the air was second-best in the KCAC and his 17 TDs were fourth-best among quarterbacks. Geisler had a breakout game against Friends (Kan.) on Oct. 8 of last season. He threw for 359 yards and ran for 61 yards, scoring six total touchdowns. DL Christian McQueen (SR) McQeen was a 2016 All-KCAC First Team selection as a defensive lineman for the Coyotes; one of four to be named at the position. He finished with 67 tackles (third on team) and led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss (74.5 yards). His 16.5 tackles for loss were third-best in the KCAC. He added 8.5 sacks for 51.5 yards which also led the team. McQueen playedquick in all 11 games for the Coyotesfacts and has played all three seasons at KWU, recording career-highs in tackles, TFLs and sacks a year ago. AFFILIATIONS: Olivet Nazarene: NAIA; Kansas Wesleyan: NAIA CONFERENCES: Olivet Nazarene: Mid-States Football Association Midwest League; Kansas Wesleyan: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference COACHES: Olivet Nazarene: Eric Hehman (Taylor), 4-7 at Olivet, 2nd season; Kansas Wesleyan: Matt Drinkall (Western Illinois-Quad Cities), 21-13 at Kansas Wesleyan, 4th season NICKNAMES: Olivet Nazarene: Tigers; Kansas Wesleyan: Coyotes COLORS: Olivet Nazarene: Purple and Gold; Kansas Wesleyan; Purple and Gold OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SERIES RECORD: First meeting in series history vs. LAST MEETING: First meeting in series history ENROLLMENT: Olivet Nazarene: 4,953; Kansas Wesleyan: 748 #20 KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS: Olivet Nazarene: Dr. John C. Bowling; Kansas Wesleyan: Dr. Matt Thompson DIRECTORS OF ATHLETICS: Olivet Nazarene: Gary Newsome; Kansas Wesleyan: Mike Hermann SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTORS: Olivet Nazarene: Nick Birkey; Kansas A special thank-you to Wesleyan: David Toelle OLIVET ON THE INTERNET: www.onutigers.com tonight’s game sponsor LIVE AUDIO/VIDEO/STATS: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/olivet.portal# (only home games) OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS COYOTES #.......Name ........................Yr. ....Pos. Ht. ......Wt. ......Hometown ...........................Previous School/HS 72.....Malik Johnson ...........FR ....OL ... 6-8 .....280 .....Indianapolis, Ind. ...........Heritage Christian School #.......Name .........................Yr. .......Pos. ....Ht ........ Wt. .....................Hometown 54.....Justin Sullivan ............FR ......LB .......6-1 ...... 205 ....................Salina, Kan. 1.......Alika Kahaulelio .........JR .....WR .. 5-8 .....170 .....Kaneohe, Hawaii .........Kamehameha High School 72.....Chase Swinford .........SR ....DL .... 6-3 .....300 .....Bismarck, Ill. .........Bismarck-Henning High School 1.......Matt Betterson ............FR ......QB ......6-2 ...... 191 ..... Colorado Springs, Colo. 55.....Eli Smith .....................JR .......OL .......6-8 ...... 275 ...................Severy, Kan. 2.......Mason Southall .........JR .....QB ... 6-1 .....195 .....Wilmington, Ill. ..................Wilmington High School 73.....Chris Barnett .............SO ....OL ... 6-3 .....300 .....Bargersville, Ind. ...........Center Grove High School 1.......Bryan Pascual ............JR .......DB.......5-9 ...... 158 ...............Stockton, Calif. 56.....Dalton Soullas ............SR ......OL .......5-11 .... 271 ..................Frisco, Texas 3.......Yusuf Haddad ............JR .....WR .. 5-10 ...176 .....San Jose, Calif. .........Valley Christian High School 74.....Nicholas Papenhagen .JR .....OL ... 6-2 .....295 .....Dundee, Mich. .......................Dundee High School 2.......Jaylan Alexander ........SR ......WR......5-10 .... 200 ......... Los Angeles, Calif. 57.....Terrence Williams .......FR ......DL .......5-10 .... 239 ...............Garland, Texas 4.......Rodney Infante ..........SO ....FB ... 6-1 .....256 .....Brunswick, Ga. ..............................Glynn Academy 75.....Karson Lueck ............JR .....OL ... 6-0 .....300 .....Bloomington, Ill. .............Normal West High School 2.......Tyler Sklenar ..............FR ......QB ......6-1 ...... 208 ...................Elkhart, Kan. 59.....Michael Reifschneider ....SO ......DL .......6-1 ...... 225 ................Arlington, Kan. 5.......Reed Holt ..................SO ....WR .. 5-7 .....160 .....Cherokee, Ala. ......................Red Bay High School 76.....Chris Branson ...........FR ....LB .... 5-11 ....222 .....East St. Louis, Ill. ....... Althoff Catholic High School 3.......Jevaughn Codlin.........SO ......DB.......5-9 ...... 170 ..........Delray Beach, Fla. 60.....Marlon Heard..............JR .......OL .......6-3 ...... 324 ............. Las Vegas, Nev. 6.......Aron Evans ................SO ....DB ... 5-8 .....130 .....Birmingham, Ala. .................. Ramsay High School 76.....Zane