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Five Graceland athletes have been selected for the 2005 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NAIA All-American Team. Roshe Hepburn headlines a talented 2005 All-American team, joined by teammates Anthony Ferguson, Rufus Williams, Clayton Braddock and Ron Strozyk.

Hepburn, a first team selection from Orlando, Fla., is a first team NAIA All-American selection and received the most votes of any defensive back in the country. At six-feet, 180-pounds, Hepburn made 98 total tackles, 50 of which were solos. As a sophomore, Hepburn had seven interceptions, 12 pass break ups, three forced fumbles and two tackles for loss. Hepburn ended the season ranked eighth in the country in interceptions per game and fumbles forced per game and was No. 32 in passes defended per game. Hepburn was also the top defensive back vote getter for the Football Gazette.

Senior Anthony Ferguson, a second team selection, gained 1484 all-purpose yards in 2005, with 1174 yards coming from 73 receptions averaging 16.1 yards per catch. Ferguson, from San Rafael, Calif., scored 15 touchdowns and gained 259 yards from 11 kick returns for Graceland. He is also a 2005 NAIA honorable mention All-American, as selected by the NAIA coaches.

Second team player Rufus Williams, was a first team all-conference offensive lineman for the 9-3 Yellowjackets this season. He was also a 2005 second team NAIA All-American as selected by the NAIA coaches. Williams, a senior from Rocky Mount, N.C., led the way for Graceland on the offensive line as the Yellowjackets averaged 430.9 yards per game (189.7 yards per game rushing) and 382 total points (31.8 points per game).

Junior quarterback Clayton Braddock was an honorable mention selection. Braddock, from Grande Prairie, Texas, completed 196 of 363 passes with just 11 interceptions and averaged 250.4 offensive yards per game in 2005. He passed for 2787 total yards and 27 touchdowns, added to his 218 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns this season.

Senior Ron Strozyk earned honorable mention defense honors for his 52 tackles and 18 tackles for 72 lost yards. Strozyk, a defensive lineman from Raymond, Wash., had four sacks this season for 20 lost yards and one fumble return.

The NAIA has placed three Graceland Yellowjackets on the 2005 Daktronics-NAIA Football All-America Scholar-Athlete team.

Senior Tony Ingram has been on Graceland’s dean’s list three times and on the honors list twice. The Fort Worth, Texas, native is studying accounting and business management.

Craig Hidy is a three-time dean’s list honoree and a two-time president’s and honors list student-athlete. Hidy, a junior from Stewartsville, Mo., is majoring in liberal studies.

Aaron Luebee, a junior from Springfield, Mo., is studying accounting and business management at Graceland. He has earned recognition to the president’s list and honors twice and the dean’s list once.

Nine Graceland athletes have been selected for the 2005 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NAIA Central All-Region Team. Rufus Williams earned offensive lineman of the year accolades and teammate Anthony Ferguson has been designated the offensive receiver of the year while Roshe Hepburn claimed the defensive back of the year award.

Williams, a senior from Rocky Mount, NC, was a first team all-conference offensive lineman for the 9-3 Yellowjackets this season. He was also a 2005 second team NAIA All-American as selected by the NAIA coaches. Williams led the way for Graceland on the offensive line as the Yellowjackets averaged 430.9 yards per game (189.7 yards per game rushing) and 382 total points (31.8 points per game).

Ferguson, a senior, gained 1484 all-purpose yards in 2005, with 1174 yards coming from 73 receptions averaging 16.1 yards per catch. Ferguson, from San Rafael, Calif., scored 15 touchdowns and gained 259 yards from 11 kick returns for Graceland. He is also a 2005 NAIA honorable mention All-American, as selected by the NAIA coaches.

Hepburn, from Orlando, Fla., is a first team NAIA All-American selection and received the most votes of any defensive back in the country. At six-feet, 180-pounds, Hepburn made 98 total tackles, 50 of which were solos. As a sophomore, Hepburn had seven interceptions, 12 pass break ups, three forced fumbles and two tackles for loss. Hepburn ended the season ranked eighth in the country in interceptions per game and fumbles forced per game and was No. 32 in passes defended per game.

Junior quarterback Clayton Braddock was a first team offense selection, along with the four players of the year award winners. Braddock, from Grande Prairie, Texas, completed 196 of 363 passes with just 11 interceptions and averaged 250.4 offensive yards per game in 2005. He passed for 2787 total yards and 27 touchdowns, added to his 218 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns this season.

Senior Ron Strozyk earned second team defense honors for his 52 tackles and 18 tackles for 72 lost yards. Strozyk, a defensive lineman from Raymond, Wash., had four sacks this season for 20 lost yards and one fumble return.

Senior Nathan Mabry, offensive lineman from Lowell, Ark., was a third team offense player and defensive lineman Dominique Randle El (Harvey, Ill.) and linebacker Nathan Bennett (Grande Prairie, Texas) were third team defensive players. Tight end Eric Boatwright (Brockton, Mass.) and all-purpose player Anthony Ferguson were selected to the honorable mention team.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that four Graceland athletes have been chosen for the 2005 Football All-America Teams as selected by the NAIA-FCA All-America Committee.

Roshe Hepburn, from Orlando, Fla., is a first team All-American selection and received the most votes of any defensive back in the country. At six-feet, 180-pounds, Hepburn made 98 total tackles, 50 of which were solos. As a sophomore, Hepburn had seven interceptions, 12 pass break ups, three forced fumbles and two tackles for loss. Hepburn ended the season ranked eighth in the country in interceptions per game and fumbles forced per game and was number 32 in passes defended per game.

Senior Rufus Williams, a six-foot-three-inch, 330-pound offensive lineman, has been chosen as a second team All-American. Williams, from Rocky Mountain, N.C., was a second team NAIAFootball.net 2005 All-American Football Team selection and a first team all-conference offensive lineman for the 9-3 Yellowjackets this season.

Senior Anthony Ferguson was selected to the All-American honorable mention team. The San Rafael, Calif., native gained 1484 all purpose yards in 2005, with 1174 yards coming from 73 receptions. Ferguson scored 15 touchdowns and gained 259 yards from 11 kick returns for Graceland.

Clayton Braddock, a junior quarterback for the Jackets, was also selected to the All-American honorable mention team. Braddock, from Grande Prairie, Texas, completed 196 of 363 passes with just 11 interceptions and averaged 250.4 offensive yards per game in 2005. He passed for 2787 total yards and 27 touchdowns, added to his 218 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns this season.

Graceland opened the 2005 season by winning the Wheat Bowl, then tied for the conference championship with an 8-2 record. The Jackets ended their season with an NAIA playoff berth and a 9-3 overall record.

Five Graceland Yellowjackets have been selected to the NAIAFootball.net 2005 All-American Football Team, sponsored by Engravers Edge.

Wide receiver Anthony Ferguson and offensive lineman Rufus Williams were chosen for the second team, defensive back Roshe Hepburn was a third team selection and tight end Eric Boatwright and quarterback Clayton Braddock were placed on the honorable mention squad.

Senior Anthony Ferguson gained 1484 all purpose yards in 2005, with 1174 yards coming from 73 receptions. Ferguson scored 15 touchdowns and gained 259 yards from 11 kick returns for Graceland.

Senior Rufus Williams was a first team all-conference offensive lineman for the 9-3 Yellowjackets this season.

Roshe Hepburn was a defensive force, making 98 total tackles, 50 of which were solos. As a sophomore, Hepburn had seven interceptions, 12 pass break ups, three forced fumbles and two tackles for loss.

Eric Boatwright caught 25 passes this season for 360 yards and rushed eight times for 29 yards and one touchdown.

Clayton Braddock completed 196 of 363 passes with just 11 interceptions and averaged 250.4 offensive yards per game in 2005. He passed for 2787 total yards and 27 touchdowns, added to his 218 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns this season.

Graceland’s Clayton Braddock has been recognized as the 2005 Heart of America Athletic Conference Football Player of the Year. Braddock is a six-foot, 200-pound junior quarterback from Grand Prairie, Texas.

Braddock averaged 250.4 offensive yards per game in 2005, leading his team to a first-round NAIA playoff appearance, Graceland’s second ever HAAC Championship and the preseason Wheat Bowl Championship.

Braddock completed 196 of 363 passes with just 11 interceptions for the 9-3 Yellowjackets. He passed for 2787 total yards and 27 touchdowns, added to his 218 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns this season.

On the national level, Braddock ranked seventh in the NAIA in total offensive yards per game, eighth in pass efficiency (144.5) and ninth in passing yards per game (232.3). Braddock was second in the conference in total offense, passing and passing efficiency.

Braddock’s best showing of the season was the 2005 Homecoming game on October 15 against William Jewell College when he threw for 364 yards and completed five touchdown passes. He also gained 31 rushing yards on seven attempts and averaged 32.5 yards on two punts.

Throughout the season Braddock was selected as the conference player of the week once and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette player of the week one time.

The football season to remember has gotten even more memorable for 23 Graceland University football players and their head coach as the 2005 post-season honors have been issued for the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets was head coach Cris Welch who received Co-Coach of the Year with Scott Metcalf of Evangel University. Welch, in his third year, led the Jackets to a final record of 9-3 (8-2 HAAC), a pre-season Wheat Bowl victory, a conference co-championship and the program’s first ever trip to the national playoffs.

The Yellowjackets earned a co-trifecta as junior quarterback Clayton Braddock (Grand Prairie, Tex.) also picked up one of the big honors as he was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year with De De Dorsey of Lindenwood University. Sophomore defensive back Roshe Hepburn (Orlando, Fla.) was the other Yellowjacket to land hardware in the big three categories as he was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year with Antonio Lolesio of Benedictine College.

Both Braddock and Hepburn were also honored as first team all-conference, and joining Braddock on the first team all-offense were three of the Jackets’ seniors: Offensive lineman Rufus Williams (Rocky Mountain, NC), tight end Eric Boatwright (Brockton, Mass.) and wide receiver Anthony Ferguson (San Rafael, Calif.).

One Yellowjacket was named to the second team for offense as senior offensive lineman Nate Mabry (Lowell, Ark.) picked up the lone nomination while three Jackets earned honors on the second team for defense: Senior defensive lineman Ron Strozyk (Raymond, Wash.), sophomore defensive lineman Dominique Randle El (Chicago, Ill.) and junior line backer Nathan Bennett (Grand Prairie, Texas).

Four more Jackets were honored on the third team as junior running back Julius Strong (Chicago, Ill.), senior offensive lineman Louis O’Brien (Cameron, Mo.) and junior wide receiver Geary Davenport (Oakland, Calif.) were named to the offensive team while junior defensive back Mike Harmon (Los Angeles, Calif.) was honored on the defensive side.

Ten Yellowjacket football players also received honorable mention all-conference: seniors Manny Espinoza (LaVerne, Calif.), Bernard Green (Little Rock, Ark.), Tony Ingram (Fort Worth, Texas), Danny Laguna (Brownsville, Texas) and Cedric Taylor (Orlando, Fla.); juniors Teon Black (Zephyrhills, Fla.), Ryan Hefta (Blue Springs, Mo.), Craig Hidy (Stewartsville, Mo.), Wayne Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.); and freshman James Thomas (Orlando, Fla.).

Listed below is the ticket information for Saturday's playoff football game in Wichita, Kan.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Tabor College Business Office (620-947-3121, Ext. 1052) in Hillsboro or at the Tabor College Wichita campus business office located at 7348 Reflection Ridge (phone 316-729-6333,Ext. 1052 or Fax 316-773-5436) .

Cost of the tickets are:

Advance Sales:
Students (with ID)- $4
General Admission - $8
Reserved section- $10

Game Day:
Students (with ID)-$4
General Admission-$10
Reserved Section-$12

The Graceland University football team will play Tabor College for the first round of the national playoffs on Saturday, November 19 at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan. Kick off is set for 1:30 p.m. central time.

Graceland ended the regular season 9-2 overall and 8-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The HAAC co-champions jumped from the 16th spot in last week's NAIA national rankings to 12th in the final rating.

Tabor, who was 10-0 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference this season, was ranked sixth in the final NAIA football national rating.

The winner of this game will play in the second round of the playoffs on November 26 and the semifinals will take place on December 3. The 2005 NAIA Football National Championship Game will be held at Jim Carroll Stadium in Hardin Country, Tenn., on Saturday, December 17 at 12:05 p.m. central time.

The #16 Graceland University football team capped the 2005 regular season with a convincing 37-16 victory over the #9 Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University Saturday afternoon in Lamoni, Iowa. The Jackets improved their overall record to 9-2 and 8-2 in the HAAC and they will share the conference crown with Evangel University who beat Central Methodist University 55-23 today.

The final score of the Yellowjacket football game at the Bruce Jenner Sports Complex is a little misleading as the Graceland football team dominated from the opening kickoff. To name a player of the game is almost impossible as numerous players had outstanding highlight-worthy performances and on both sides of the ball the "TEAM" was on top of their game.

The Yellowjackets opened the scoring at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter as junior quarterback Clayton Braddock threw a lateral pass to junior Geary Davenport who in turn threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior wide out Anthony Ferguson. The Jackets trickery was the final play on their second possession that went a total of 53 yards over 10 plays.

On the ensuing possession the Pioneers marched the ball down the field but the Yellowjacket defense stood strong and kept the Pioneers to a 36-yard field goal.

The second quarter was all Graceland as the Jackets would score three times on their way to a 24-3 halftime lead. Ferguson would make his second touchdown catch on a 12-yard play, this time directly from Braddock who went 20-27 for 241 yards. Ferguson made seven catches on the day for a total of 81 yards, three of his catches were highlight reel plays that got the Jackets up the field and out of trouble.

Sophomore Pedro Cunningham was the next Yellowjacket to reach the end zone as he rumbled nine yards to cap a four play, 57-yard drive. Junior kicker Scott Akers hit a 34-yard field goal with 1:06 on the clock to score the Yellowjackets' final points of the half.

The Jackets came out of the locker room for the third quarter and sophomore Roshe Hepburn set the tone as he was the first man down the field on a punt, rocked the return man, forced a fumble and made the recovery. Hepburn was all over the field as he led the Jackets in tackles with 10, assisted on a tackle for loss, forced and recovered a fumble, made one interception and had a pass break-up. The Yellowjacket defense has really stepped up in the last three games and the sophomore from Orlando, Fla. has been a big leader on the field.

The big special teams play by Hepburn also led to the Jackets first score of the second half as junior Julius Strong broke four tackles and made three spin moves on his way to the end zone on the very next play. The 19-yard rush was another of the Graceland highlight plays of the day that had the large crowd abuzz.

The Graceland lead had increased to 31-3 part way through the third quarter but as the Yellowjacket playbook reopened, the Braddock-to-Davenport pass play came up again. This time after receiving the lateral pass Davenport made a move to slip a tackle then he hit junior wide receiver Marcus Nolan in the end zone for a 22-yard passing TD. Junior David Hererra missed his only extra point kick of the contest but the Jackets had a strong 37-3 lead.

MidAmerca went on to score twice in the final frame but they had to work for every point as the Yellowjacket defense burned a great deal of time off the clock as they stuffed the Pioneers run time after time. The defense earned their own highlight reel as they stopped the Pioneers on seven plays in a row inside the five.

David Herrera was second on the Jackets' hit list as he made seven smashing tackles that could be rivaled only by some of the punishment senior Nathan Bennett handed out on his way to making six total tackles. Seniors Manny Espinoza and Ron Strozyk each made five tackles in their final home game of their careers and Espinoza picked off a Pioneer pass that led to a Yellowjacket score.

Sophomore lineman Dominique Randle El had a great day in the trenches as he made three tackles and a highlight interception deep in the Graceland zone.

The Yellowjackets will share the HAAC title with Evangel University, a title the Jackets have not held since the 1975 season that was capped off with a trip to the Mineral Water Bowl. Today's win also marks just the third time in the past 10 years, and the first time since 1998 that Graceland has beaten MidAmerica Nazarene.

Head Coach Cris Welch can call this day a highlight of his brief career but he still has more highlights coming in 2005 as the Yellowjackets should have locked up a spot in the NAIA's national playoffs.

Check the Graceland website at www.gojackets.graceland.edu late Monday afternoon or go to www.naia.org for updated postings on the national championship brackets.

The Graceland University football team will play MidAmerica Nazarene University for the conference title on Saturday, November 12 at 1:30 p.m.

The Yellowjackets currently hold a 7-2 conference record and MidAmerica is 7-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Evangel University is also in the mix with a 7-2 record and will play the 3-6 Central Methodist University Eagles on Saturday. The winner of the MidAmerica at Graceland game will be the conference champion, and if Evangel wins, a co-championship will be shared.

In 1975 the Jackets won their first and only Heart of America Athletic Conference championship since the HAAC was founded in 1971. The 1975 team played in the post season Mineral Water Bowl and ended that year with a 7-3-1 record.

The Graceland University football team kept their playoff hopes alive as they trampled the Vikings of Missouri Valley College on Saturday in Marshall, Mo. The 21-9 victory improved the Yellowjackets’ record to 8-2 as they prepare for a head-to-head match-up with the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University in the season’s final weekend of the regular schedule.

The winner of the GU vs MNU game will be crowned Heart of America Athletic Conference Champion, and pending the outcome of the Evangel game, the winner will be either the outright or the co-champion of the HAAC.

The Yellowjackets struck first in their week 10 match-up as they went 80 yards on seven plays in their first possession. The drive was capped off with a six-yard run to pay dirt by sophomore Pedro Cunningham. At the end of the first quarter the Jackets were up 7-0 in a must-win game.

Late in the second quarter the Vikings were able to get on the scoreboard as they hit a 27-yard field goal to set the score at 7-3. The Jackets were able to answer by marching back down the field in six plays and 74 yards to score themselves before the end of the half. Cunningham would get the nod again as he rumbled 12 yards for his second touchdown of the game. The Yellowjackets hit the locker room at the half with a solid 14-3 lead.

The only score of the third quarter capped off another Yellowjacket long drive that went 83 yards in 12 plays. The scoring play went through the air as junior quarterback Clayton Braddock hit senior wide receiver Anthony Ferguson with a 14-yard strike. The Jackets went into the fourth quarter with a commanding 21-3 lead.

Late in the game Missouri Valley added a score to close the gap to 21-9 but the Jackets thwarted their two-point conversion attempt and sealed the deal with 3:51 to go.

The Yellowjackets almost punched it in for another score in the game’s final moments of the game but Head Coach Cris Welch was more than happy to leave Marshall with a win of any kind.

On the offensive side of the ball Pedro Cunningham led the way on the ground as he ran for a total of 119 yards on 24 carries. Through the air Braddock went 22-40 for 328 yards and one TD pass. Ferguson and Geary Davenport each caught six passes in the game, Ferguson for 98 yards Davenport 83. Tight end Eric Boatwright chipped in with four catches for 43 yards.

Defensively the Jackets had a great team day as they limited the Vikings to 10 first downs and a total of 208 yards of offense.

Junior linebacker Craig Hidy led Graceland in tackles as he made six stops. Sophomore Roshe Hepburn was next on the list with five, while junior Michael Harmon and seniors Tony Ingram and Ron Strozyk each had four. Three of Strozyk’s tackles were for loss with a total of 12 yards. Ingram also had a tackle for seven lost yards and junior Teon Black had the Jackets lone interception.

The Yellowjacket offense is producing well and the defense has really stepped up as the team heads into its final regular season game versus MidAmerica Nazarene. Both teams are in the nation’s top 20 and the game is a must-win situation for each program as both teams are on the verge of making the national playoffs. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Bruce Jenner Sports Complex in Lamoni, Iowa.

The 6-2 Graceland University football team had a bad taste in their mouth after losing to Evangel University in week eight of their 2005 campaign. In week nine the tables were turned and the Yellowjackets feasted on the Eagles of Central Methodist University defeating them by a score of 41-6 and improving the Jackets overall record to 7-2.

The Yellowjackets had one of their best all-around games as they put up 444 yards of total offense that was mirrored by a stingy defense that stuffed the Eagles for 86 yards of total offense.

The Yellowjacket offense resembled their high powered 2004 attack as junior quarterback Clayton Braddock attempted 39 passes. Braddock completed 21 of his passes, three for touchdowns. Senior Anthony Ferguson was Braddock’s favorite target as Ferguson caught 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Six other Yellojackets caught passes in the game one of which was junior Geary Davenport who caught the other Braddock TD pass.

The trio of Pedro Cunningham, Demetrius Cox and Davenport handled the bulk of Graceland’s ground attack as they went for 151 yards on 38 carries. The two Jacket scores by way of the rush came from Braddock and junior tight end Eric Boatwright. The Yellowjackets’ other score on the day came on a 22 yard interception return by sophomore Roshe Hepburn.

The Yellowjacket defense did not spend a lot of time on the field but they were very productive as they picked off four passes, had a fumble recovery and one sack.

Leading the team in tackles were senior Ron Strozyk and junior Nathan Bennett who each had five, Strozyk picking up the sack for nine lost yards. Senior captain Tony Ingram only made four tackles on the day but two of them were for loss. Juniors Craig Hidy and Kengen Jones along with sophomore Dominique Randle El also had tackles for loss in the game. Roshe Hepburn, Teon Black, David Herrera and Robert Pentek had the interceptions that were highlighted by the Hepburn score.

Graceland remains in a tie for second place with their final opponent on the season, MidAmerica Nazarene University, but they have a good team in Missouri Valley College as their next opponent. With only two weeks left in the 2005 season the Jackets are in a must-win situation as they hope to make the nation’s top 16 and the national playoffs. The game on Saturday at Marshall, Mo. is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start.

The # 13 Graceland University football team took a tough loss Saturday, Oct. 22 in Springfield, Mo. as they were defeated 47-14 by the #23 Crusaders of Evangel University.

The Yellowjackets had trouble from the beginning as the Crusaders opened the scoring early in the first quarter. The Jackets did a good job to keep Evangel off the scoreboard for the rest of the opening frame but they could not get a score of their own. The Jackets did score in the second quarter on a Clayton Braddock to Geary Davenport pass play but at the time the score was already one sided at 20-7. The Yellowjackets went into the locker room at the half down 33-7.

Head coach Cris Welch rallied his troops in the locker room and they came out and shut out Crusaders in the third quarter. The zero on the score board was a small victory as the Jackets could not score any points of their own.

The Yellowjackets had their second score of the game in fourth quarter as Demetrius Cox bashed his way into the end zone on a four-yard run. Evangel bettered the Jackets in the quarter by scoring twice and setting the final number at 47-14.

Total numbers on the game were not as one sided as the score showed as Evangel out-passed the Jackets 174-149 and barely out-ran the Jackets 174-149. However the two lost fumbles and two interceptions by the Jackets were the difference in the game.

On the defensive side of the ball Roshe Hepburn had another great day as he led the team in tackles with nine, one for a loss. Nathan Bennett and Wayne Johnson were next on the hit list as they each made seven total tackles. Three of Johnson’s tackles were for loss, one of which was the Jackets only sack of the game. The other bright spot for the Yellowjackets was Dominique Randle El who blocked an extra point attempt.

The Yellowjackets will have to step up their play as they have three games left in the season and will most likely have to win all three if they wish to make the nation’s top 16 and the playoffs.

The Jackets return home to the Bruce Jenner Sports Complex in Lamoni on Saturday, Oct. 29 to take on the Eagles of Central Methodist University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Junior quarterback Clayton Braddock has earned Offensive Player of the Week in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Braddock led the Yellowjackets to a 47-26 win over William Jewell by completing 20-of-27 pass attempts for 364 yards and five touchdowns. The Grand Prairie, Texas, native also rushed seven times for 35 yards to help Graceland to a 6-1 record this season.

Graceland homecoming 2005 provided a weekend filled with festivities, fun and frolic for all that attended the 110 year old campus in Lamoni, Iowa. Many former Yellowjackets gathered at the Bruce Jenner sports complex to watch their beloved football program take on and thrash their most recent rival, William Jewell College. All in attendance left the football match-up with smiles on their faces as the #13 Yellowjackets beat the #26 Cardinals by a score of 46-27.

The football festivities started a little slow for the near 3000 in attendance as the Cardinals scored twice on two field goals and led early by a score of 6-0. The fun really began when junior quarterback Clayton Braddock hit senior Anthony Ferguson on a 67-yard pass play that had Ferguson streaking down the near sideline as he entered the end zone. Junior David Herrera kicked the extra point and all Yellowjackets past and present began to frolic in the packed stands.

The second quarter had each team score twice as Jewell scored on a field goal and a touchdown pass. The Jackets answered each score with touchdowns of their own, the first on a drive that went 90 yards on eight plays. Capping off the drive was a Braddock strike to junior tight end Eric Boatwright on a six-yard pass play. The final score of the first half completed a Yellowjacket drive that went 96 yards on 12 plays. Sophomore Demetrius Cox finished that drive as he banged it in from four yards out.

The Yellowjackets went into the locker room at the half with a 20-16 lead that they achieved in front of their frenzied crowd.

The scoring in the third quarter was opened by Graceland as they once again went a long 69 yards and Braddock threw his third TD pass of the game hitting junior Marcus Nolan on a 15-yard pass play. Jewell kicked their fourth field goal of the game late in the third quarter and at the end of the third frame the Jackets led by a score of 26-19.

The fourth quarter was dominated by the Yellowjackets as they gave all of the students and alumni the show they wanted. Braddock hit junior Ryan Hefta on a seven-yard touchdown pass to open the quarter and extend the lead to 33-19. The Cardinals scored their final points less than a minute later to edge closer at 33-26 but Graceland would score two more touchdowns before they were done.

Braddock hit his favorite target of 2005, Anthony Ferguson, for another touchdown in a three-play, 71-yard drive and the scoring was capped off on a Boatwright two-yard rumble into the end zone.

Special teams was an issue for the Jackets as senior kicker/punter Danny Laguna was injured on a botched snap early in the game. Defensive back David Herrera was called upon to take over the kicking duties where he went 5-7 on extra points and earned some high praise from Head Coach Cris Welch. Laguna did get one punt off in the match that traveled 38 yards and quarterback Clayton Braddock took the other two punts for Graceland, the first put the Cardinals deep in their own territory and the second going 41 yards.

Defensively the Yellowjackets had a great effort by their whole squad. They did give up a total of 334 yards, but more important they kept the Cardinals out of the end zone most of the day. Sophomore Roshe Hepburn led the team in tackles as he had a total of 11 to go along with his pass interception and two pass break-ups. Senior Cedric Taylor and junior Nathan Bennett each picked up nine tackles on the day, Bennett with a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

Senior Tony Ingram made an immediate impact in his 2005 debut as he made six tackles one of which was a sack for four yards of loss. Freshman James Thomas made the Jackets’ other big play of the day as he picked off a Cardinal pass and returned it for 30 yards setting up a Graceland score.

Although the Graceland fans left with smiles on their faces, the celebration will be short lived for the Yellowjackets and their coaching staff as they prepare for a week eight match-up versus a very good offensive club in the Crusaders of Evangel University. The 6-1 Yellowjackets will travel to Springfield, Mo. for a 1:30 p.m. start against the 5-2 Crusaders.

The #15 Graceland University football team traveled to Atchison, Kan., Saturday to take on the #22 Ravens of Benedictine College in a clash of the NAIA’s Top 25. The game would prove to be a see-saw battle but at the end the Yellowjacket would prevail with a 31-24 final.

Benedictine struck first in the game on a 45-yard field goal that was matched on the very next drive as senior kicker Danny Laguna booted a 27-yarder to knot the game at three early in the second quarter. Benedictine would score twice before the half and the Jackets found themselves down 17-3 as they went into the locker room.

Head Coach Cris Welch would have to inspire his team if they wished to come back for a victory and remain in the nation’s Top 25.

Whatever Coach Welch said in the locker room worked as the Jackets scored twice in the third quarter to once again tie the ballgame at 17-17. Junior Julius Strong rumbled for 11 yards on the first major score which was part of his 107 yards rushing in the game. Less than two minutes later junior quarterback Clayton Braddock hit sophomore tight end Robert Summers on an 11-yard pass play that capped off a 66-yard drive.

Benedictine opened the scoring in the final frame and regained the lead. The 24-17 lead of the Ravens was only a threat as the Jackets marched the ball back down the field for 80 yards on 10 plays which was capped off with a four-yard Braddock pass to junior Geary Davenport. The Jackets tied the game at 24 apiece and the Ravens crowd was silenced.

On the final Raven’s possession of the game the Yellowjacket defense stood tall and forced the Ravens to punt and set up a big play final drive for the Jackets. The Jackets ran five plays and gained a few yards before junior tight end Eric Boatwright and senior Anthony Ferguson made the two plays of the game each catching passes for 32 yards. The two plays took the Yellowjackets 64 yards, but more importantly, to the one yard line with 15 seconds left on the clock.

Head Coach Cris Welch called his final timeout of the ball game to mull over the options: kick or go for it. As the Benedictine faithful stood in anticipation of the final play of regulation Clayton Braddock marched out onto the field and the Jackets were going to try and punch one in. In a gutsy move by the Jackets coaching staff, Braddock kept the ball and ran it in for a touchdown with 10 seconds left on the clock. Laguna kicked his fourth extra point and the Jackets had their final lead of 31-24.

The come-from-behind victory was a huge one for the Yellowjackets as they keep their hunt for a HAAC championship alive and they look to improve on their #15 ranking amongst the NAIA’s best.

The Graceland football team will take a much deserved week off as they have a bye in week seven of their schedule, but they will not rest as they have to prepare for a homecoming game on October 16 versus their nearest rival William Jewell College. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and it will highlight a weekend packed full of events on the Graceland campus in Lamoni, Iowa. Visit www.graceland.edu for a full list of the weekend’s homecoming events.

The Graceland University football team (4-0) returned home Saturday night to take on a hungry group of Lions from Lindenwood University (2-1). The tone for the game was set early as Lindenwood scored three times before the Jackets would finally hit pay dirt. The Jackets fought back in the second half, but Lindenwood eventually came out on top in a 42-27 Graceland loss.

Lindenwood jumped out to a 16-0 lead that the Jackets were able to cut into late in the second quarter as quarterback Clayton Braddock hooked up with running back Demetrius Cox on a 22-yard pass play. Danny Laguna kicked the extra point and the Jackets went into the locker room down 16-7 at the half.

The second half started on the down side for the Jackets as Lindenwood’s De De Dorsey scored another of his six touchdowns for the Lions. Cox attempted to answer the call for the Jackets as he added two second half rushing touchdowns to go with his first half receiving score. Anthony Ferguson also got in on the scoring for Graceland as he made a remarkable catch in the end zone that lifted the nearly 800 strong Yellowjacket faithful fans.

Lindenwood scored twice late in the game to seal the deal in a game that featured a combined 69 points scored and 858 total yards of offense. Graceland did out pass Lindenwood as Braddock went 16-35 for 253 yards but the Lions’ 318 yards of rushing out did the Jackets’ 208. Leading the way on the ground, for the Jackets, was Demetrius Cox who rumbled for 140 yards on 22 carries and two TDs.

Defensively the Jackets saw a couple great efforts by Roshe Hepburn and Nathan Bennett who led the team in tackles with 12 a piece. Hepburn also picked off one pass and Bennett had 2.5 tackles for six yards of loss. Also making stops for loss were Robert Pentek (1, 4 yards) and Ron Strozyk (1.5, 2 yards).

Next week the Yellowjackets will face another strong HAAC foe in Benedictine University who was defeated by Lindenwood in week three of the HAAC schedule. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Atchison, Kan.

The Yellowjacket football team traveled to Canton, Mo. Saturday to take on a Culver-Stockton Wildcat team that was looking to upset a second Top 15 team of 2005. As usual the Graceland offensive was able to score a great deal of points but the big plays of the day came from a defensive core that shut out the Cats for the first three quarters and kept the Yellowjackets’ undefeated record in tact with a 37-14 win.

Although the Yellowjackets gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter, they were taken to task often and excelled in the big play department. The defense was able to make seven tackles for loss in the contest six of which were sacks. Nathan Bennett had two tackles for loss one of which was a sack to go with his nine total tackles in the game. Second on the team in tackles was Wayne Johnson who had seven total, two of those tackles were sacks that produced six yards of loss for the Cats. Dominique Randle El, Cedric Taylor and Rahim Martin each picked up a sack and combined for 12 total tackles.

Three of the Jackets’ defensive players were able to pick up loose balls as Bennett, Randle El and Waldon each had a fumble recovery. Adding to the impressive day on the defensive side of the ball were Roshe Hepburn and James Thomas who each had an interception, Thomas returned his for 17 yards.

With the absence of the HAAC’s number one rusher, Julius Strong, Head Coach Cris Welch looked to spread the running duties around and the plan worked well as six different Jackets rushed for 215 yards. Demetrius Cox led the way with 15 carries that resulted in 106 yards and one touchdown. Pedro Cunningham was second in touches as he ran for 48 yards on 11 carries while Geary Davenport scored the Jackets other TD on the ground on an 18-yard run with one of his two carries that totaled 47 yards. Donald Clark was the other back to get multiple touches as he gained 14 yards on six carries.

Clayton Braddock took the bulk of the snaps as he went 15-31 with two TD passes and 191 total yard of passing. Davenport went 2-2 in the game including a 10-yard touchdown strike to Cunningham. The two quarterbacks combined for a total of three touchdowns, 230 yards and took care of the ball very well as they didn’t give up any interceptions.

Eric Boatwright was a busy tight end as he reeled in a game high six passes for a total of 98 yards. Anthony Ferguson, Davenport and Cunningham each caught two passes and each scored a touchdown in the contest. Marcus Nolan also caught two passes in the game while Demetrius Rudd, Robert Summers and Bruce Peters each chipped in with one catch.

Kicker Danny Laguna added a 37-yard field goal and he was 4-5 on point-after tries. Laguna punted five times in the game for an average of 44.4 yards including a long of 52 yards.

The Yellowjackets (4-0) will return home to Lamoni on Saturday, September 24 as they will take on a hungry group of Lions (1-2) from Lindenwood University who defeated #13 Benedictine in week three of their HAAC schedule. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Bruce Jenner Sports Complex.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference awarded Graceland’s Anthony Ferguson and Roshe Hepburn conference player of the week honors for their performances in the September 10 game against Baker University.

Anthony Ferguson, a senior wide receiver, has earned Offensive Player of the Week in the HAAC. Ferguson caught six passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-25 win over Baker. The San Rafael, Calif. native caught two of his three TD passes in the first 1:20 of the second quarter and his longest catch of the day was 43 yards.

Roshe Hepburn, a sophomore defensive back, has been selected Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Hepburn recorded four solo tackles and five assisted tackles to along with an interception, two pass break ups and a forced fumble. The Orlando, Fla. native returned the interception 33 yards to set up the Yellowjacket offense.

Watch Ferguson and Hepburn this Saturday in Canton, Mo. as the Yellowjackets play Culver-Stockton College. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

The 2-0 Graceland University Yellowjacket football team opened the 2005 home campaign with a convincing victory over HAAC foe Baker University on Saturday night in Lamoni, Iowa. The Jackets outscored the Wildcats 51 - 25 on a night where the Jackets posted 571 total yards or offense.

Baker University opened the scoring on a two-yard pass play at the 5:58 mark to take a short lived 7-0 lead. Two plays and less than a minute later the Jackets answered back on a 62 yard run by junior running back Julius Strong that locked the game up at 7-7, which was the final score after one quarter of play.

Graceland head coach Cris Welch rallied his troops for the second quarter and rally they did, outscoring the Wildcats 30-0 in the second frame.

Senior receiver Anthony Ferguson opened the floodgates on a 43-yard pass play from junior quarterback Clayton Braddock at the 14:47 mark. Graceland’s defense got in on the scoring and frustrated the Cats when freshman defensive back James Thomas picked off a Wildcat pass and returned it for a 26-yard touchdown at 13:54. On the ensuing possession the Jacket defense forced a fumble and that recovery would lead to another Braddock to Ferguson score on a 19-yard pass play. The Jackets scored 21 points in first 1:20 of the second quarter, but they weren’t done yet.

Clayton Braddock hit junior wide receiver Marcus Nolan on an 18-yard scoring play to cap off a 10-play, 62-yard possession that bumped the score to 34-7 after a blocked point-after attempt. The Jackets closed out the half with three more points by the way of senior kicker Danny Laguna’s foot on a 27-yard field goal pushing the score to 37-7 in favor of the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets managed to gain 321 total yards in the first half which was highlighted by Braddock’s 147 yards and three touchdown passes, two of which went to Anthony Ferguson who caught five passes for 116 yards. Juice Strong had an outstanding first half on the ground as he gained a whopping 133 yards rushing.

Defensively in the first half, the Jackets stymied the Cats by only allowing seven points and 175 total yards of offense. The defense had numerous big plays which included sacks by seniors Manny Espinoza and Ron Strozyk. Sophomores Dominique Randle El and Milton Thomas also picked up sacks in the first half of play. Roshe Hepburn, James Thomas and Nathan Bennett led the team in tackles with five a piece.

At the beginning of the second half things appeared to still be going the Jackets’ way as Geary Davenport finished off a five-play, 37-yard possession with a 15-yard romp into the end zone. Laguna added another extra point and at the 13:14 mark of the third quarter the Jackets once again increased their lead and were up by a score of 44 - 7.

Baker’s offense woke up in the third quarter and scored two consecutive touchdowns but they could only close the gap to 44 -19 as Graceland’s defense thwarted both of the Wildcats’ two-point conversion attempts.

Clayton Braddock and Anthony Ferguson once again hooked up for a third scoring play at the 4:41 point of the third quarter on a 31-yard pass that bumped the Jackets’ total points to 51 over the Cats’ 19. The final score of the game was a Baker four-yard passing TD, but once again the Yellowjacket defense stepped up and stopped a third two-point conversion attempt.

The Jackets out rushed the Wildcats 377 – 49 on efforts by Julius Strong, who finished the game with 172 yards on 16 carries, followed by Demetrius Cox, who had 89 yards on four carries. The Jacket tandem of Braddock and Davenport were out passed 404-194 by the Cats tandem of quarterbacks but the four passing and two rushing scores along with the defensive score were too much for the Wildcats in the Graceland victory.

Thomas Milton got the Jackets’ fifth tackle for loss of the game and Roshe Hepburn added a second half interception to go with his first half sack. Nathan Bennett led all tacklers with 11 while Roshe Hepburn finished off a great night with nine tackles and Jay Hightower was next on the tackle list with seven.

With the 51-25 victory the Yellowjackets improve their record to 3-0 and will look to better that record on Saturday, September 17, when they travel to Culver-Stockton College, to face another Wildcat team, that upset the #7 team in the nation Lindenwood University, in their season opener in week one the 2005 campaign. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Canton, Mo.

The Graceland Yellowjackets defeated Avila University 38-7 Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo. to go 2-0 on the season. GU opened the season with a 24-20 win over Southern Nazarene University in the Wheat Bowl on August 27.

The Jackets host Baker University from Baldwin City, Kan., next week at 6 p.m. in Lamoni.

The Graceland University football team opened the 2005 season with a 24-20 victory over the Crimson Tide of Southern Nazarene University in the NAIA’s opening celebration, the 11th Annual Wheat Bowl.

The two teams traveled to Great Bend, Kan., for the neutral site meeting that had the #23 Yellowjackets squaring off against a Crimson Tide team that received some votes on the 2005 NAIA preseason poll.

The Yellowjacket offense continued with its high powered attack from 2004 as they struck first with a touchdown linking quarterback Clayton Braddock and Robert Summers on a five-yard pass play. Danny Laguna came in to kick the extra point and the Jackets had a seven-point lead; a lead they would never lose in the season-opening victory.

Laguna kicked a 21-yard field goal at the 1:38 minute mark of the first quarter to increase the Graceland lead to 10-0. The Crimson Tide shut down the Jackets scoring in the second quarter but the Graceland defense stepped up and held the Tide to a total of five first-half points and the Yellowjackets hit the locker room with a 10-5 halftime lead.

The second half proved to be a high scoring affair as the two teams combined for a total of 29 points. Graceland again struck first as linebacker Robert Pentek pounced on a fumble and scored his first touchdown of the 2005 campaign. Laguna once again kicked the extra point and the Yellowjackets increased their lead to 17-5.

SNU scored a quick three less than two minutes later on a 35 yard field goal, but the Jackets answered with a huge 70-yard pass play from Braddock to Anthony Ferguson that resulted in a touchdown and the biggest lead of the game for Graceland as they ended the third quarter ahead 24-8.

Southern Nazarene scored twice in the fourth including a touchdown at the final buzzer to make the score a close 24-20 but Head Coach Cris Welch felt good with his team’s performance as they gained their first of many wins in 2005.

Junior quarterback Clayton Braddock was named the offensive player of the game as he went 17-34 with two touchdown passes and 201 total yards passing. Frosh defensive back James Thomas was named the defensive player of the game for his five-tackle effort, one forced fumble and one pass break-up.

The Jackets will travel to Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, September 3 where they will open their conference schedule against Avila University at 6 p.m.

Ellinwood, Kan. – One school almost joined the national playoff picture a season ago. Another is on the cusp of becoming a familiar ranked commodity.

With high aspirations for the 2005 football campaign, these two small-college hopefuls – Graceland University of Lamoni, Iowa, and Southern Nazarene University of Bethany, Okla. – will be able to measure their potentials very early when they collide here in the inaugural game of the Wheat Bowl Football Classic’s “second decade.”

Kick-off for Wheat Bowl XI, to be contested at the Ellinwood Sports Complex on Saturday, August 27, is set for 7:00 p.m. The regional headliner remains the only pre-season football bowl game endorsed by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Graceland will enter Wheat Bowl participation as the first team to be selected from the state of Iowa. The Yellowjackets head into the new season following a highly encouraging 2004 campaign that produced an 8-2 record, secured a No. 19 ranking in the NAIA’s final national poll, and earned a tie for the runner-up spot in the prestigious Heart of America Conference.

Southern Nazarene becomes the fourth NAIA school to have been selected to play in the Wheat Bowl at least twice. The Crimson Storm dropped a 21-14 decision to MidAmerica Nazarene University in Wheat Bowl IX in 2003. SNU comes off a 6-4 2004 season and a third-place finish at 4-2 in its first year of competition in the rugged Central States Football League.

On paper, Wheat Bowl XI figures to present a classic match-up featuring the high-octane offense of Graceland against the formidable defense of Southern Nazarene. The Yellowjackets averaged 33 points a game a season ago, while the Crimson Storm limited opponents to 16.5.

“This year’s Wheat Bowl football game brings together two outstanding universities with very promising football programs,” said Toby Johnson, chairman of the Wheat Bowl Selection Committee, in announcing the participants for Wheat Bowl XI. “Both teams are predicted to among some of the NAIA’s very best during the upcoming season. This should provide for another exciting Wheat Bowl match-up.”

Graceland alumnus Cris Welch is beginning his third season at his alma mater, having quickly resurrected the Yellowjacket gridiron fortunes. A former Division I recruiter for Boston College, he has added more game-time players to the Graceland roster in hopes of winning a HAAC championship and pursuing an NAIA national title. Coincidentally, Welch is a native of Yukon, Okla., located only six miles west of Bethany, where the Southern Nazarene campus is located. After graduating from Yukon High School in 1987, he started every single game of his collegiate career as a center for Graceland, and served as a Yellowjackets’ team captain his junior and senior seasons.

Paul McGrady, who has been a staple in the Southern Nazarene athletic department for nearly two decades, begins his fifth season as the Crimson Storm head coach. He initiated the SNU football program in 1999, leading the school to winning records in each of the first four campaigns. During a four-game winning streak early in the 2004 campaign, Southern Nazarene reached as high as the No. 15 spot in the NAIA national rankings. Late in the season, the Crimson Storm limited perennial NAIA national power Northwestern Oklahoma State to just 10 points in a 10-3 loss.