Nov 07, 2025

🏈 KWU hosts No. 18 McPherson on Saturday

Posted Nov 07, 2025 7:18 PM

The Coyotes are back home for a Kansas Conference and Gene Bissell Division game against the 18th-ranked McPherson Bulldogs.

GAME INFORMATION

  1. Kickoff: 1 p.m.
  2. Day: Saturday
  3. Location: Gene Bissell Field at JRI Hospitality Stadium and the Graves Family Sport Complex
  4. Records: Kansas Wesleyan 6-3 (2-1 Bissell Division); McPherson 8-1 (2-1)

KCAC GAME DAY LIVE IS HERE

  1. The KCAC has selected Kansas Wesleyan as the host of this week's KCAC Game Day Live pregame show. Join host Jason Dannelly on Urban Edge Network, along with on-site host Tyler Henry and a plenty of special guests to talk about Saturday's game and all things KWU, KCAC and NAIA Football.
  2. Part of the show will feature interviews with KWU staff, a special guest pick for the show, and a field goal kicking contest with the winner earning a gift card to Yotee's Store.

LIVE COVERAGE

  1. The video stream of the game will be available online on the Urban Edge Network (https://urbanedgenetwork.net/watch/2872). The game will also be streamed on the KCAC Network (https://kcacnetwork.com/kansaswesleyan/) The KINA Radio Pregame Show with Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will start at 12 p.m. on KINA Radio.
  2. Live Stats will be available at https://kwucoyotes.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
  3. Radio coverage will be on KINA starting at noon with Henry and Garretson. The online radio stream is available at https://radio.securenetsystems.net/ce/kina2.

THE SERIES

The Coyotes' nine-game winning streak ended last year when McPherson won 42-14 in McPherson. KWU's winning streak came after the Bulldogs had won five of six. Wesleyan has a 17-7 advantage in the series since 2001.

KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE

  1. The Coyotes lost to fourth-ranked Friends 63-6 last Saturday in Wichita. The Falcons rushed for 341 yards and six touchdowns and forced four KWU turnovers. Wesleyan finished with 374 total yards and Friends 452.
  2. D'Heaven Domena and Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey had huge games. Domena rushed for 205 yards on 41 carries and Lomax-Spivey caught six passes for 109 yards. Henry Austad completed 13 of 25 passes for 105 yards and backup Caden Middleton was 4 of 7 for 74 yards that included a five-yard touchdown pass to Mason Ross in the fourth quarter.
  3. Domena, a senior running back, has been a true workhorse of late rushing for 470 yards on 81 carries in the last two games. He ran the ball 40 times for 265 yards and a touchdown against Sterling before last week's herculean effort. Domena has 813 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in the last six games.
  4. Lomax-Spivey, senior wide receiver, has surpassed 100 receiving yards in two of the last three games. He had eight catches for 153 yards against Saint Mary on Oct. 18.
  5. Zarek Fewell rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown, Richard Lara threw for 151 yards and Talen Cope kicked field goals of 23 and 29 yards against McPherson a year ago. The Coyotes led 10-7 after one quarter but trailed 21-10 at halftime.

McPHERSON AT A GLANCE

  1. The Bulldogs downed No. 25 Southwestern 53-40 in a shootout last Saturday in Winfield. It was their second consecutive victory since losing to Friends 56-32 Oct. 18 in Wichita. They defeated Evangel 17-10 Sept. 20 in Nixa, Mo.
  2. Junior running back Jalil Brown ranks fifth in rushing in the NAIA at 124.2 yards per game. For the season he has 1,118 yards, averages 7.4 per carry, has 14 touchdowns and is the second-leading receiver with 28 catches for 324 yards. Brown had 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns against KWU last year.
  3. Junior quarterback Ryan Markarian has competed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,464 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
  4. McPherson averages 45.4 points and 492.4 total yards - 300.1 passing and 192.3 rushing. Opponents average 18.3 points and 275.6 total yards - 163.2 passing and 112.3 rushing.
  5. Head coach Jeremiah Fiscus is in his seventh season. He previously was an assistant at Henderson State (Ark.), TCU and Northwestern State (La.).

KWU HEAD COACH MATT MIDDLETON

"Not much to say except we got physically whipped. (Friends) is a really, really good football team. I have not seen anybody close to them roster wise this year. The mistakes we made didn't make it any better. It's nothing against the kids but Friends was just more physical and that was indicated on both sides of the ball. I'd be shocked if they don't have a chance to play for (the NAIA title).

"We're in a situation where we're just absolutely physically beat up. I have never been in a year like this. I think the biggest thing for us is trying to bounce back because we've still got two football games left to play.

"(Domena) is a tough kid, we've really found a hammer with that. It's probably not good that he gets all the totes he gets but he's been our offense in a lot of ways. I'm super proud of him and how hard he's played.

"(McPherson) has got a lot of talent on the roster, they're doing their very best to be a national contender. They're 8-1 and had a chance against Friends so I think they're super talented skill wise. I think offensively they're really good and on defense they get after you.

"(Brown) is super special. If you shut him down in the run game, they're going to get him involved in the passing game. You don't stop a guy like that; you can try and contain some of his touches a little but at some point, he's going to get loose."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BOOMER CUNNINGHAM

"I think we've executed at a high level for the most part. I think that D'Heaven's come in and done a good job for Luke (Armstrong) since his injury. I think the (offensive line) has been buying into what I'm trying to teach them, and the receivers are doing a good job as well blocking on the exterior trying to give our running backs time and space to be able to do things. I think we've progressed pretty well for the most part.

"The good thing that you like to see is that next man up mentality. Even though we've had those injuries you see guys step in for Will (Wilcox) and Luke and Jevin (Dorsey). It's been a total team effort which makes me very proud to see. They've taken it upon themselves that 'I can help out the team and take that role on.' Of course, you want your big-time playmakers but that's going to happen. It's just how it is sometimes on the football field."

NEXT WEEK

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