Avila Knocks off Ranked Kansas Wesleyan in Salina

SALINA, Kan. – For the second time in three seasons, a nationally unranked Avila football team headed west to Salina for a showdown against a ranked Kansas Wesleyan squad. And for the second time in three seasons, the Eagles (5-1, 5-1 KCAC) scored a major upset over the Coyotes (4-2, 4-2 KCAC) with an 18-14 victory on Saturday afternoon on the strength of yet another dominant defensive showing by the Eagles.

The all-time series between these two conference rivals has been littered with offensive shootouts and close games: in the previous four matchups, the winning team scored at least 30 points and the end result was decided by ten points or fewer. The 2022 edition was another tight contest but, this time, the defenses reigned supreme: both teams scored their fewest points of the season, and Avila's offense took full advantage of the opportunities provided by the defense to create the final margin of victory.

In fact, the Eagles followed the exact same game script twice to produce all of their points Saturday: the Avila special teams pinned Kansas Wesleyan inside its own five yard line, the defense earned a safety, the return game set up shop in good field position, and the offense converted the chance into a touchdown. On a day where the teams' defenses combined to score 11 of the 32 total points, the Eagles by far showcased the superior execution in handing their ranked rivals their second loss of the season.

Avila freshman punter Gary Elder picked a great time for the best game of his young career. After both teams began the afternoon with three-and-outs, Elder's first punt of the afternoon bounced back at the KWU four yard line, pinning the Coyotes back deep. Defensive coordinator Charles Alexander sent pressure and the Eagles got home immediately: Coyote quarterback Tony White ran right into Donavaughn Turner and a host of other Eagles in the end zone for a safety and the game's first points.

Then the Avila offense went to work. KWU punted to resume play after the safety and JaQuez Snell returned it up to the 28. Eli Williams was masterful on the drive, converting two third downs with his feet, before narrowly turning a play that could have been a sack at the midfield line into a 22-yard gain on first and 20. One play later, Williams linked up with Robert Brooks III on a deep in for a 15-yard score, giving the Eagles a 9-0 with 5:19 left in the first quarter.

But Kansas Wesleyan wasn't ranked in the NAIA's Top 15 for no reason. Still trailing 9-0 at the start of the second quarter, the Coyotes found the end zone twice in the first three minutes of the period, once on a 16-yard pass from White to Paden Hazuga, and then again minutes later on a pick-six of Williams by Shaun Browder. Ke'Tron Jones intercepted White in the end zone late in the second quarter and there was no further change in score: Kansas Wesleyan headed to halftime up 14-9.

Neither offense was able to move the ball much in the third quarter – both teams traded punts early before KWU tried to run it on fourth and one, only for Mark Benjamin to be stood up at the line by Ishe Smith for a turnover on downs. The Eagles could not convert a third and long, but Elder once again stepped up to deliver a punt that was marked down inside the one yard line of Kansas Wesleyan. Once again, the Eagle defense went to work. New KWU quarterback Richard Lara handed off to Nick Allsman on second down from the goal line and the Eagles were there immediately, with Smith leading the pack for the team's second safety of the afternoon.

And once again, the Eagle offense took full advantage of the opportunity. Jecori Johnson returned the ensuing kick to the Avila 47 and a Coyote penalty pushed Avila's starting field position across midfield. Sensing the importance of the situation, Avila head coach Marc Benavidez elected to go for it on fourth and four from around midfield and Loagnn Freeman delivered a crucial nine-yard reception to move the chains. Three plays later, Brooks beat his defender in one-on-one coverage on the right sideline and caught his second touchdown of the day, this from 22 yards out, to put Avila back in front 18-14 with 13:32 to play in regulation.

That would be all for the scoring, but it would not be all for the intrigue. KWU got as close as the Avila 27 but Terrell Valentine broke up a pass on third down before Lara misfired on fourth down for another turnover on downs, giving Avila the ball back with about five minutes to play and a four-point lead. Now needing simply to bleed time, Avila relied heavily on senior running back Malik Nesbitt, who carried the ball six times on Avila's final possession alone, including once for an 18-yard pickup on first down. A Williams-to-Andrew Williams pass on third down proved critical, as did an illegal contact penalty against the Coyotes after Eli Williams was stopped in the backfield on third down – that gave the Eagles a first down with the clock ticking, and all Williams had to do was kneel it once to preserve Avila's 18-14 victory over the team ranked #15 in the NAIA polls.

The win unquestionably is Avila's biggest since the last time they defeated Kansas Wesleyan in Salina in 2020. The Coyotes were ranked 6^th in the country then, and that win helped propel the Eagles to a share of their first ever KCAC championship. Now, despite Avila's loss to Southwestern earlier this season, the Eagles' bid for another potential KCAC title is alive and well. Next, the Eagles will face what is likely their final big test of the regular season at home at The Z next Saturday when Bethel, which defeated Southwestern Saturday night, comes to Kansas City in sole possession of first place in the conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM; as always, you can watch all the action on the Avila Sports Network with Joe Van Amburg on the call.