Sterling College

There is tending to be a couple themes on Saturday afternoons of late. The NCAA football world is unpredictable, but the Sterling Warrior offense is.

The uncanny consistency of Jake Buchanan putting up another 240 yards passing going 21 for 37 and 3 TD, and the ground game posting 272 yards behind a big effort from freshman Rashard Colquitt going 9 for 132 and 1 TD is getting to be like reliable re-runs of M.A.S.H. You know what's going to happen, but you just love to watch anyway.

Wesleyan did not help their own cause by turning the ball over in their first posession as Sterling scored because of it with a Buchanan to Kevin Laudermilk 8 yard TD reception. Sterling would go on to put up 20 more first half points on two more Buchanan passes to Laudermilk and Josh Oberle respectively mixed in with an Adam Langverdt rush for TD, putting the half-time score at 27-0. Wesleyan tried to test the pass defense in the first half, and 4 interceptions later, they took to the locker room to adjust the game plan.

As expected however, the Coyotes has a second half howl left in them as they found success in the running game. Tailback Steven Valliere found paydirt for the Coyotes with a 16 yard scamper beginning what seemed like a possible 2nd half challenge for the Warriors. To the Coyotes dismay, the Warriors punched back with a ground attack as their own, as a well rested Colquitt threw up almost all of his 132 yards of rushing in the 2nd half, making his long of 58 yards, closely following that with another breakout run of 32 yards for the last Warrior touchdown of the afternoon.

"We knew we were going to have to be efficient today, and we honestly missed chances to put up points. Our defense really stepped up in those situations. We battled well against a team that has very good athleticism," remarked Coach Andy Lambert after the game.

Jake Buchanan keeps plugging away as the top rated passer in the KCAC and ranks in the top 20 in NAIA passing efficiency. Josh Oberle with his TD catch moved to 12 TD receptions on the year (13 overall), that putting him in the top 5 of NAIA receivers.

The Warriors say goodbye to Smisor for the '07 season as they head out on the road for their final 2 games, next week in Leavenworth to take on the Spires of St. Mary.