Weevils Continue Potential Dream Season

Staff Writer

   The Missouri Science and Technology Miners helped the Weevils find a rich, undefeated start for the first time under head coach Gwaine Mathews with a final score of 42-24.  

Photo by Linna Jones

The Wave -  Juniors Richard Atwood and Chance Adams, fans from the "Rowdy Crowd" student section encourage other fans to get up and do the Wave. SGA and SAB provided the "Rowdy Crowd" with free t-shirts and encouraged students to support the Weevils.

   The Weevils started the game without seven of their players. Five players were suspended for showing up late to the pre-game meal and two players were injured. Those players all contributed big in the first game. Freshman Tim Reaves didn't play a snap at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff game but stepped up and played every defensive down versus MST.

   "The rule is if you show up late you don't play and I had to stick to my guns," Mathews said. "We are as good as our second-team and I don't think we played bad considering the circumstances" of the suspended players and the injuries.

   Early fumbles in the game combined with the defense giving up big plays hurt the Weevil's performance in the first half, and mental mistakes needed to be erased for them to put the Miners away in the second half.

   "I knew we had to lock in physically and mentally and go ahead and get the win," said senior offensive lineman, John Meadows. "We were never worried. I knew we were going to start clicking on all cylinders, and score touchdowns."

   As a team, the Weevils combined for 634 yards of total offense, including 336 passing yards. The ball spread to eight different receivers. Senior Clarence Denmark led the way with seven catches for 154 yards and a touchdown. Denmark ranks third in the gulf south conference with total receiving yards.

   "When somebody makes a mistake, offense or defense, we're going have each others back," said, senior linebacker, Solomon Edwards. "We got to be focused all around the ball from the d-line to the d-backs, we got to be ready in order to compete for the championship."

   Many criticize the Weevil's defense for this season, but the Weevils have shut most critics up and executed when the time came to put teams away.

   "The D-play is a carry over from the coach, but we got to continue to not give up big plays and not turn the ball over," said, fourth-year assistant head coach, Dykes. "The tempo he (Mathews) gives everyone follows not just the players but the coaches as well."

   Mathews and the Weevils have definitely made visible progression this season, but are far from satisfied in hopes of completing a dream season. 

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