KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Troy Sylve is becoming the Shohei Ohtani of college football.
Sylve, a redshirt freshman, is listed as a defensive end on Kansas Wesleyan's football roster but has quickly evolved into a top notch running back. Ohtani, of course, is the Los Angeles Dodgers' sensational pitcher/hitter.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Sylve ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime, as the Coyotes notched a wild 35-28 Kansas Conference victory over Avila Saturday afternoon at the Zarda Multisport Complex.
He had 22 yards rushing and scored twice a week earlier against Bethany.
Sylve, a native of Walker, La. and former high school quarterback, played defense, but it was his work out of KWU's Meal Train Package on Saturday that was essential. In the alignment, Sylve takes the direct snap and plows ahead behind a lineup that features offensive linemen and other large bodies from the defense.
His six-yard touchdown run with 3:05 left in the first quarter tied the game 7-7. The Coyotes led 21-7 at halftime after scoring twice in the final 2:48 of the half. Taylor Collins intercepted a Joseph Vick pass and returned it for 25 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-7.
Vick was stopped for no gain on fourth down at the Avila 40-yard line on the Eagles' next possession and three plays later Caleb Deal hit Kevo Taylor with a 33-yard touchdown pass that gave the Coyotes a 21-7 lead with 1:43 left before the break.
Avila narrowed the gap to 21-14 on Vick's 16-yard TD pass to Chrishawn Adams at the 6:06 mark of the third quarter. KWU answered with a 75-yard, 11-play drive that Sylve capped with an 11-yard burst into the end zone with 16 seconds left for a 28-21 lead.
Vick and Adams hooked twice for long touchdowns in the fourth quarter - the first a 64-yarder with 10:38 left in the regulation that made it 28-21. After KWU missed a field goal attempt, Vick found Adams for 73 yards that tied it 28-28 with 1:38 remaining.
Wyatt Oak's pass was tipped and intercepted at the Coyotes' 37-yard line on the next possession, but they escaped when a 36-yard field goal attempt missed the mark with 15 seconds left.
The Coyotes took possession first in overtime, and Sylve scored from the 2 on the fourth play. Andrew Brown's 16-yard run two plays earlier gave KWU a first down at the 4.
Avila gained one yard on its first three plays in overtime. The game ended when Gavin Skerik sacked Vick for a 10-yard loss on fourth down.
Sam Mitchum had 64 yards rushing on 11 carries and Deal 56 on 17 tries for the Coyotes. Deal and Oak were a combined 15 of 27 passing for 124 yards while Kyler Brown had five receptions for 56 yards. Skerik had nine tackles and two sacks, and Myles Elam six tackles and two sacks to lead the defense, which had five sacks on the day.
Vick was 14 of 30 for 319 yards, three touchdowns to Adams and two interceptions. Avila finished with just 65 yards rushing on 33 attempts.