Sep 25, 2026

🏈 KWU heads to HIllsboro on Saturday facing stiff test from Tabor

Posted Sep 25, 2026 1:50 PM

The Coyotes are on the road for a game against Kansas Conference opponent Tabor.

GAME INFORMATION

  1. Kickoff: 1 p.m.
  2. Day: Saturday
  3. Location: Joel H. Wiens Stadium, Hillsboro
  4. Records: Kansas Wesleyan 3-1, Tabor 1-3

LIVE COVERAGE

  1. The video stream of the game will be available online on the KCAC Network at www.kcacnetwork.com/
  2. Live Stats will be available at https://kwucoyotes.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
  3. Radio coverage will be on KINA Radio starting at 5 p.m. with Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson. The online radio stream is available at https://radio.securenetsystems.net/ce/kina2.

THE SERIES

Tabor ended the Coyotes' seven-game winning streak with a 28-19 victory last season at JRI Hospitality Stadium. KWU dominated the previous seven contests and has a 15-10 lead in the series since 2001 that includes a 7-5 slate in Hillsboro. KWU leads the all-time series 35-22.

KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE

  1. The Coyotes demolished Bethel 67-17 Saturday for their third consecutive victory. Caleb Deal had a huge night throwing for 289 yards and five first-half touchdowns. He completed 18 of 24 passes, no interceptions and gained 68 yards rushing on 12 carries.
  2. The defense held the Threshers to 37 yards rushing, six sacks and had a pick six touchdown from Yamnoel Oyola-Bernier. Myles Elam had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, forced a fumble and recorded a safety when he tackled Bethel's punter in the end zone.
  3. Wesleyan finished with 542 total yards (324 passing, 218 rushing) and didn't allow a sack. Andrew Brown had 82 yards rushing. Will Wilcox caught three passes for 103 yards and a touchdown; Max Wilson had three catches for 80 yards and two scores, and Alexander Elam eight for 70 yards and a touchdown.
  4. The start of the game was delayed four hours by the weather and didn't begin until 9 p.m. KWU wasn't fazed, though, and led 37-7 at halftime.
  5. The Coyotes are averaging 47.8 points and 443 yards per game - 193 passing and 250 passing. They're converting 43 percent of their third-down chances. Deal is the leading rusher with 296 yards and averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He's completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 481 yards and one interception.

TABOR AT A GLANCE

  1. The Bluejays have lost their last three games to three of the KCAC's top teams - Southwestern, No. 15-ranked McPherson and No. 8 Friends. They lost to Friends 42-14 last week in Wichita, a game they trailed 21-14 at halftime, and fell to McPherson 21-13 a week earlier in Hillsboro.
  2. Friends had 494 yards rushing and Tabor 32. Jerome Stewart threw for 111 yards and a touchdown while freshman running back Grady Gebhardt, a former Southeast of Saline standout, had 82 yards rushing on 12 carries for the Bluejays.
  3. Gebhardt, who played quarterback at SES, is the leading rusher with 224 yards and a touchdown. He averages 6.4 yards per carry. Stewart, a redshirt sophomore, has thrown for 393 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tyson Dozhier is the top receiver with 14 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown.
  4. Tabor scored 28 unanswered points after KWU took a 6-0 lead in last year's game. The Bluejays revamped their roster this season after finishing 5-6 overall, 3-2 in the Ted Kessinger Division.
  5. Mike Gardner is the dean of KCAC coaches and is in his 19th season as the head man. He coached four seasons at Malone (Ohio) before returning to Hillsboro for the 2010 season.

HEAD COACH MATT MIDDLETON

"That was the longest game I've ever been involved in. I got tired of the waiting. I think it says a lot about our guys to be able to stay locked in somewhat for that period of time. They played for four quarters, so I was proud of them.

"I think (the passing game) finally settled in; we kind of had a coming out party. We had several guys make plays that gave (Deal) a chance. We had a couple of really tough catches that turned into touchdowns.

"We're good (defensively) when we hit the quarterback or we put pressure on him. Based off what we play coverage-wise we can give up some big plays but I feel good when we get to him because people don't like to throw harassed.

"Defensively, (Tabor) flies to the ball. They're very unorthodox, they do a lot of different looks and a lot of different things to try to cause havoc. Offensively, I bet they've been in a thousand formations already this year. What I mean is you get different formations every week, and we know we're going to get some we've never seen. They'll line up funky ways, but they'll always have somebody where they're supposed to be."

QUARTERBACK CALEB DEAL

"All week in practice we knew we wanted to pass the ball, working on different things and just getting more trust in our passing game. I think that really clicked for me going into the game.

"Will is a big target to throw to, Max runs great routes and I know once the ball's in the air he's going to go get it. Kyler (Brown) is a middle of the field demon. Alex is a great player, he's fast, he's super elusive. Just getting the ball to him in space and letting him work is a big thing for us.

"The O-line is doing amazing this year. I think we only have one sack through four games. It's really big to have a good O-line up front for sure."

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