The outcome was never in doubt but that wasn't the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes' primary objective in their non-conference game against Arkansas Baptist on Saturday.
No. 6 KWU rolled for 565 total yards, scored virtually at will and numerous reserve players saw significant duty in the 81-6 victory at Graves Family Sports Complex.
Coach Myers Hendrickson opted to play the game instead of taking the bye week his team could have had, his reasoning quite simple.
"We were sharp all week in practice and that honestly was more important than the result of the game," he said. "Regardless of how the game went today I felt like we had a good week of prep and this time of year that's all you can ask for because we have aspirations of playing more football ahead of us with our biggest of the season coming up."
That "biggest" game is next Saturday when KWU plays No. 13 Southwestern at 1 p.m. at Graves Complex, the Kansas Conference title and an automatic bid to the NAIA playoffs on the line.
The Moundbuilders improved to 8-1 in conference play with a 38-17 victory over Friends on Saturday in Winfield. The Coyotes are 9-0 in the KCAC, half a game ahead of No. 11 Bethel (9-1) and one game ahead of Southwestern.
"The scoreboard shows we had a great day but I put more of the focus on preparation and I think truly that's what helped us be successful today," Hendrickson said. "I think it bodes well for us because we're practicing well."
The Coyotes scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game – offense, defense and special teams. Three quarterbacks combined for 214 yards passing and KWU had 351 yards rushing with four backs combining for 341 of it.
Mark Benjamin (FR/Houston, Texas) returned a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown for the special teams score and Shaun Browder (JR/St. Louis, Mo.) took an interception 40 yards for the defensive points.
"We played well in all three phases but when you have a bye week it does change your routine and we had to be sharp today," Hendrickson said. "To get up and play and be excited to play was important for us and that's what we did."
The Coyotes quickly erased any doubts about the outcome by scoring 28 points in the first quarter on Drevon Macon (JR/Los Angeles, Calif.)'s two-yard run, Steve Williams' five-yard run, Isaiah Randalle (JR/Sacramento, Calif.)'s 14-yard pass to Williams and a five-yard CJ Fluker (FR/Defiance, Ohio) run.
Nick Allsman (SO/Belleville, Kan.) ran 25 yards for a touchdown, Benjamin scored on the kickoff return just after Arkansas Baptist scored its lone touchdown and backup quarterback Tony White (JR/Cincinnati, Ohio) scored from the 3-yard line that gave Wesleyan a 49-6 halftime advantage.
The onslaught continued in the third quarter as Benjamin scored on runs of 45 and 4 yards, Steven Harvey (JR/Berkeley, Calif.) went 32 yards for a TD and Browder had his pick six. Harvey, who led KWU with 133 yards rushing on 20 carries, scored from the 3 in the fourth quarter for the final points.
"Steve Harvey prepares extremely hard and he's also a student of the game," Hendrickson said. "He can do everything in our offense."
"During the week coach Hen keeps us level headed and makes sure we take every day like it's our last and we just kind of push ourselves," Harvey said. "The scout team gives us a great look; everybody pushes themselves to the limit and we all have each other's backs.
"I prepare the same every week, just be ready when your number is called. Expect to get in and when you do make the best of it."
Harvey said the goal Saturday was to keep doing what they'd done the previous nine weeks.
"Playing our own game and not getting outside of it," he said. "Keeping the energy up and making this the next step toward Southwestern. Coach Hen says every week we have to go 1-0 and that's what we did today."
Harvey gave kudos to the big guys in front of him who pave the way.
"Our offensive line is fantastic," he said. "Our success this season on offense wouldn't be anything without them."
Fluker had 98 yards rushing on 11 carries, Benjamin 73 on just four carries and Allsman 60 yards on five attempts. Benjamin, though, left the game with an injury late in the third quarter and didn't return.
"It's brotherhood," Harvey said of the running back corps. "We all look after each other, we all push each to do our best. I'm really speechless about this group because in all my years of playing football this is the most I've enjoyed playing with a group of guys."
KWU also had another outstanding day defensively, limiting the Buffaloes to 213 total yards that included just 52 rushing on 39 attempts. ABC completed just 15 of 33 passing for 161 yards, two interceptions and were sacked four times.
JJ Barajas (JR/Huntington Beach, Calif.) had a team-best seven tackles while Daniel Killian (SR/Orange, Texas), Julian Urioste (FR/Portales, N.M.), Devlin Davis (FR/Spring Hill, Kan.) and Andrew Sorenson (JR/Manhattan, Kan.) each had five.
Southwestern defeated KWU 42-21 last season in Salina, handing the Coyotes one of their two losses during the season.