Texas Wesleyan (0-0) vs. #21 Kansas Wesleyan (0-0)
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Place – Fort Worth, Texas
Stadium – Farrington Field
Time – 7 p.m. (the first night game in Texas Wesleyan football history.)
Broadcast and Live Stats –
www.RamSports.net/Live
Game Preview
The Rams
It has been a long and motivating off-season for the Rams, who had a forgetful first season. Head coach
Joe Prud'homme and the Rams are not worried about being selected ninth in the inaugural Sooner Athletic Conference preseason poll, because the team is poised for a season that is straight up.
The Offense
Last season the Rams got in a groove rushing the ball in the month of October, averaging 169 yards through a four-game stretch. All-conference selection
Jermarcus Jones is back and will look to lead the backfield once again, after racking up 809 yards last year. The backfield welcomes Texas Tech transfer
Desmond Nisby, who will look to take the rushing attack to new heights.
The passing game stayed more or less consistent throughout the season, but the team is still looking for that breakout game. Quarterback
Donovan Isom, a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana looks poised to make that happen this season.
The Defense
A no-nonsense bunch led by defensive coordinator
Paul Duckworth will look to disrupt and dismantle opposing offenses once again in 2018. Last season, the Rams defense averaged 8 tackles for loss and almost 2 sack (1.78) per game. The group also broke up 24 passes and recovered nine fumbles. Cornerback
Michael Miller returns for his senior campaign and looks to lead the defensive attack. He led the team with 57 tackles and added two picks in 2017. Defensive Tackle
Matthew Shelby had 49 tackles and led the team with 13 tackles for loss.
#21 Kansas Wesleyan
The Coyotes finished the 2017 season at 8-3 overall and 7-2 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Two of the three losses were to top 25 opponents (Sterling College, Tabor College). In the team's eight wins, the Coyotes outscored their opponents by an average of nearly 20 points (19.5).
Kansas Wesleyan is slated third in the 2018 KCAC preseason poll, below Sterling and Tabor.
The Offense
The team returns two All-KCAC players in the offensive line in Eli Smith and Dakota Best, along with RB Demarco Prewitt. Head coach Matt Drinkall says his offensive line unit is the best he has had in his tenure.Trenton Poe-Evans, a first team All-American at the WR position looks to repeat his success from last season.
The Defense
The Coyotes lost the KCAC's leading tackler and NAIA All-American Garrett Updegraft, and a few other key starters to graduation, so it will be a task to replace the veteran leadership on the defensive side of the ball. The linebacker position will be by committee. Kansas Wesleyan will also shift to a true 4-3 defensive scheme, different from the 4-2-5 they employed last season.
The records are 0-0 and the sky is the limit for both squads. The only question is, "Who's hungry?"
Join us in the Ram Zone at 5 p.m. at Farrington Field for food, fun, and more. The American Red Cross will be on campus taking blood donations from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot by Lou's Place. Everyone who donates blood will receive free tickets to the game in appreciation of First Responders. All First Responders and their families will receive free admission with ID or badge.
