KWU Athletics
Jake Balderrama has a different view of the game of football and the opportunity to play it.
His appreciation for what it offers in a broader scope is a product of his age and the circuitous route he took to Kansas Wesleyan that included a brief departure from the sport.
"I preach all the time that this game decides when you end, you don't necessarily get to decide so you have to take advantage of every situation," said Balderrama, the Coyotes' senior starting left tackle. "One day this isn't going to be here."
He speaks from the vantage point of knowing what life without the game is like.
"You have to keep loading up your toolbox not just with football things but with personal things," said Balderrama, who's 25 years old. "Life skills really that are built throughout football that you overlook while you're in it at that time.
"The first week of being away from football I missed it right out of the gate. I was actually having vivid dreams of me playing football months after I had stopped. I wanted to get into coaching at that time but even then, it just I felt like it wasn't enough and I needed to football back in my life."
Balderrama returned and came to KWU from Texas A&M-Commerce before the 2021 season. He earned All-Kansas Conference Honorable Mention recognition after helping the Coyotes post a 10-3 record and qualify for NAIA postseason play.
He shares his appreciation for a second chance with his teammates.
"I try to preach focusing on the moment and focusing one day at a time," he said. "We have enough problems coming tomorrow and that came yesterday so let's focus on right now. I'm blessed that coach (Matt) Meyers and the coaching staff are letting me be a part of this program."
The focus "right now" for Balderrama and the ninth-ranked Coyotes is a key KCAC matchup against No. 22 Bethel (2-0) on Saturday. Kickoff is 7 p.m. in JRI Stadium at Graves Family Sports Complex. KWU is 2-0 with lopsided victory over Friends (70-0) and Sterling (49-0) to open the season.
This week's task won't be nearly as easy, though. Bethel defeated McPherson 14-13 in North Newton then rallied past Friends 28-16 last week in Wichita. The Coyotes have won the last 13 games against the Threshers including victories the past two seasons in North Newton.
Balderrama expects a pitched battle.
"We're getting ready for a very hungry Bethel team that has been disappointed on their home field two years in a row," he said. "Nothing else matters but this game for them so we're going against a team that's fired up and flying around."
Wesleyan's high-scoring offense has traveled primarily on the ground the first two weeks led by quarterback Tony White. White and tailbacks Nick Allsman and Mark Benjamin have combined for 465 yards rushing on 74 carries – an average of 6.3 per carry.
The Coyotes rank first in scoring (119 points) and second in total offense (1,005 yards) and rushing yards (647) in the NAIA.
KWU's offense has put more emphasis on the run this fall but certainly hasn't forsaken the pass but White has made as many plays with his legs as he has with his arm, which is fine with Balderrama.
"It's different and I'm only saying it's different because I've played with that type quarterback for two games," he said. "We're adjusting to it but I prefer him being able to evade that pressure and go make a play like he does a lot."
Balderrama, who weighs 280 pounds, enjoys the challenge run blocking offers.
"It puts the pressure on us entirely which we all love," he said. "Pass blocking is always fun but I love the pressure of it being totally on us to open those holes for those running backs."
"If you watch him play, he's constantly knocking people on the ground," Myers said. "The violence he brings and the experience he brings from playing so much college football is very important."
Balderrama is one of four senior starters on the offensive line – left guard Jarren Hightower, right guard Nolan Harris and center Trace Ott the others. It's an older group that has been together a while and understands the tasks at hand.
Balderrama said last year's loss to No. 1-ranked Morningside in the second round of the playoffs inspired the quartet to return for one final season.
"Going out against Morningside and losing in that fashion (58-21) just left a bad taste in my mouth," he said. "We are chasing perfection because we don't want to feel that ever again."
"Running the ball has to be our identity has to be that," Myers said. "We have to be able to run the ball later in the year. If we need to go get a first down, I trust those guys to get it."
Bethel's defense has changed under new head coach A.B. Stokes, who replaced Terry Harrison after he took the Friends job during the offseason. Harrison employed a unique style of defense, one in which linemen stood at the line of scrimmage.
Stokes utilizes a more conventional scheme but Balderrama says it will still be challenging.
"Their defensive line is pretty quick, pretty fast," he said. "It'll be our biggest test to date. We're breaking it down as detailed as we can so that nothing surprises us when we get there on Saturday."