The 24th-ranked Coyotes open the 2024 season Saturday against Kansas Conference foe and No. 14-ranked Evangel. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on Gene Bissell Field at JRI Hospitality Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.
LIVE COVERAGE
- The video stream of the game will be available online through the Coyote Sports Network at www.kcacnetwork.com/kansaswesleyan. The Coyote Sports Network will have Coyote Game Day live at JRI Stadium from 6 to 6:30, hosted by student broadcasters, previewing Saturday’s match-up. At 6:30, pregame switches to the Eagle Radio Pregame Show.
- Live Stats will be available at https://kwucoyotes.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
- Radio coverage will be on the Coyote Radio Network. The online stream is available at https://radio.securenetsystems.net/ce/kina2.Tyler Henry will have the call with pregame starting at 6 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now at www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets. Tickets are also available at the door
Very few spots remain in the Premium Tailgate lot. Reserve a remaining spot now at www.kwucoyotes.com/tickets
GAME DAY SPONSORS
Saturday’s official game day sponsors are Ryan Roofing and A-Plus Architecture and Construction Services of Salina
KWU would also like to thank Little Caesar’s and Chick-Fil-A for providing team and game day staff meals
PROMOTIONS
- It’s Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day, all staff and faculty and families will be admitted free, and recognized between the first and second quarters
- A special gathering area for faculty and staff will be in the President’s Pavilion
- Yotee’s Spirit Store will be open in the Student Activities Center AND on the concourse level at JRI Stadium.
- The Mounted Patrol out of Fort Riley will present the game ball
- Wesleyan Chorale will perform the National Anthem
- Coyote Dance Team will perform at half time
- Check out the latest vehicles from our transportation partners Marshall Motor and Long McArthur
RECORDS
- Kansas Wesleyan 0-0
- Evangel 0-0
THE SERIES
- Evangel leads the series 2-1. The Valor won last year’s game 17-7 in the season opener in Nixa, Missouri. It was their first game as a member of the KCAC. KWU won 38-28 in 2013 in Salina and Evangel 48-0 in 2001 in Springfield, Missouri in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.
KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE
- The game features two of the KCAC’s top teams. KWU is the co-favorite with Ottawa in the Gene Bissell Division preseason poll while Evangel is the co-favorite with Friends in the Ted Kessinger Division poll.
- The Coyotes committed five turnovers and were 0 for 4 on fourth down in their loss to Evangel last season. KWU scored in the first quarter and finished 148 total yards compared to Evangel’s 399.
- Sophomore Byron McNair, who started the final six games last season, will open at quarterback Saturday. He’ll be joined by running backs Zarek Fewell, Luke Armstrong and D’Heaven Domena. Earl Gray, Rhadarious Lomax-Spivey, Kajuan Casey, and Latavion Staples will be the primary wide receivers.
- Linebacker Ricardo Garcia, end Josh King-Bradley, safety Quatama Massaquoi and cornerback James Preston lead the defense.
- Eight Coyotes were named to the Bissell Division Preseason Team – Fewell, Armstrong, offensive linemen Aiden Kendall and Casimere Jontrell, fullback Artaveon Shavers, defensive backs Julian Urioste and Jordan Dupre, and placekicker Talon Cope.
EVANGEL AT A GLANCE
- The Valor were 11-0 during the 2023 regular season – their first in the KCAC – before losing to Bethel (Tennessee) in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.
- Coach Chuck Hepola enters his 10th season as Evangel’s coach and has a 53-31 overall record.
- Reid Potts, a transfer from Missouri State, is expected to start at quarterback. He replaces R.J. Wakely, who threw for 2,761 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Running back Sammy Robinson, who rushed for 155 yards last year against KWU, has also departed along with receiver Dillon Hester, who had 12 catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Eric Williams, the Valor’s top rusher a year ago, returns along with Third Team All-America lineman Chris Anoa’i.
- Defense is the Valor’s strength and is led by First Team All-American linebacker Bradley Myers who had 151 tackles in 2023. His brother Zach anchors the interior line while cornerback Nate Swofford leads the secondary.
KWU COACH MATT MYERS
“It will be a test. We’re playing a team that was undefeated in the conference, so we expect them to come in and give us their best shot. Biggest improvements usually occur week one to week two; the first game of season you don’t know what they really have yet so we’re preparing for all scenarios on offense, defense, special teams, and everything in between.
“They’ve got some really good quality players up front on both sides and a linebacker that was All-America last year. We feel comfortable with our offense and are excited to see what they can produce with everyone coming back from the spring and last fall.
“We turned the ball over five times, didn’t hit any of our fourth-down plays last year. If we can change that a little bit, specifically the turnovers, we feel like we’ll for sure be in the game and maybe come out on top. If we take care of business, we feel really good about it.”
NEXT WEEK
The Coyotes play longtime arch rival Bethany at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ted Kessinger Family Stadium in Lindsborg.
