The Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes hosted "KCAC Game Day Live" on Saturday morning ahead of the Coyotes' match-up with No. 18 ranked McPherson College Bulldogs.
When it was time for the expert picks of the day, show hosts all said the Coyotes had a chance to play spoiler.
The Coyotes did just that. Wesleyan used a 12-play, 93 yard drive scoring with 57 seconds left to stun the Bulldogs 20-17 at Gene Bissell Field at JRI Hospitality Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
The Coyotes took over with 4:56 left in the game at their own 7 after a McPherson punt was downed there.
KWU leading rusher D'Heaven Domena started the drive with a 10-yard run and the Coyotes marched down the field getting a 21-yard pass on a screen to Domena to have a first down at the 38. The Coyotes continued their march, and the drive almost stalled at the McPherson 11 with a minute left. Faced with fourth down, quarterback Henry Austad four Domena for 11 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Talon Cope's PAT was good.
McPherson then took over but started pinned at their own 8 after a holding penalty on the kick return negated a good return for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs used the arm of Ryan Markarian to move down the field getting a key 28 yard play to be near midfield. Another play got the Bulldogs in KWU territory at the 40. After spiking it to stop the clock, it appeared Markarian had hit a receiver with a deep pass inside the KWU 10, but a holding penalty would negate the big gain and push McPherson back to midfield. McPherson had one last try with two seconds left but couldn't get the play going to try to win the game.
Neither team scored on their first drives of the game, and the Coyotes turned the ball over on their next drive as Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey fumbled on a pass reception and McPherson would recover, and scored four plays later to take a 7-0 lead.
After KWU had it again and stalled, McPherson took over again. The Coyote defense appeared to setup up again as Isaiah Dickerson stripped Edgar Bell on a pass catch, but then Dickerson would fumble on the same play and McPherson would recover to maintain possession.
Wesleyan's defense would step up and force McPherson to a 32 yard field goal.
In the second quarter the Coyotes got on the board. Dejaylon Beal would force a fumble after a pass catch by Jamai Rutherford that was recovered by Taylor Collins for the Coyotes and Collins would return the ball for a touchdown. McPherson would challenge the call, but it was upheld, getting the Coyotes within three at 10-7.
Talon Cope would hit a 39-yard field goal on the next drive for the Coyotes to tie things up at 10-10 with 6:21 left before the half.
McPherson would score on the ensuing drive to take a 17-10 lead with 4:35 left.
The Coyotes drove down and got another Cope field goal from 32 as time expired in the half to make it 17-13 at the break.
Neither team scored in the third quarter as both squads missed field goals.
McPherson drove to the KWU 43 on their next to last drive of the game but stalled there as Stephen Wilson made a huge sack of Markarian to end the drive, but Jack Finder's punt would roll dead at the 7, setting up KWU's go ahead drive.
Domena was again dominant for the Coyotes carrying 32 times for 147 yards on the day. He also added two receptions for 32 yards, including the game winning catch. Lomax-Spivey had six catches for 45 yards.
The Coyotes outgained McPherson 296-287 in the game.
Wesleyan's defense was again huge, pitching a second-half shutout of the Bulldogs. Jamison Price led the Coyotes with nine tackles. Myles Elam had eight, including a sack. Callum Armstrong had two sacks.