Graceland VS MidAmerica Nazarene
The Yellowjackets, (4-2) lost 37-24 to the number four team in the nation, MidAmerica Nazarene, (8-0) Saturday afternoon in Lamoni, Iowa. The Jackets received some votes on the most recent national poll and a victory over the Pioneers might have allowed Graceland to crack the Top 25.
The first quarter had the Pioneers jumping out to a 14-0 lead as running back Greg Simpson had two short touchdown runs of three and seven yards. Yellowjacket kicker Danny Laguna booted a 30-yard field goal to open the home team’s scoring, making the score after the first quarter MidAmerica 14, Graceland 3.
Yellowjacket quarterback Tom Campos hit wide receiver Dante Johnson for a 91-yard touchdown strike to open the second quarter. Allowing the Jackets to come within four points of the highly favored Pioneers.
The Jacket defense stepped up in the second quarter and allowed only two field goals of 26 and 43 yards by the MidAmerica’s kicker Ford Hall. Campos and Johnson hooked up again just before the end of the half with another touchdown strike of 41 yards. The Jackets headed into the locker room at the half down 17-20.
MidAmerica came out in the third quarter and scored two touchdowns to increase their lead to 34-17. Ford added another field goal at the beginning of the fourth quarter while Campos hooked up with wide receiver Nick Terrazas on a 12-yard touchdown reception.
The 12-yard touchdown reception ended the scoring for the game where quarterback Tom Campos and his receiving core out threw the Pioneers in the air 301 to 118 yards. The ground attack of the MidAmerica was able to rumble for a total of 321 yards while the Jackets went for 48 yards, led by running back Julius Strong with 40 yards. In total offense, the Pioneers out did the Jackets by a mere 90 yards; 439 to 349.
Defensively the Jackets had five players in double digits with tackles: defensive backs Ryan King (18), Tony Ingram (12), and Brent DeLong (10) and linebackers Jayson Blocker (11) and Craig Hidy (11). Ingram added a forced fumble and two sacks to his day in the trenches, along with linebacker Troy Rider, who had nine tackles and a sack.
The Yellowjackets (4-3) will travel to Kansas City, Mo. to take on Avila University (2-5) Saturday November 1. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Rockhurst High School field.
