FULTON, Mo. — William Woods football (3-2) defeated Graceland University (1-3) 41-34 Saturday at the North Campus Athletic Complex.
The Owls jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Coleson Baum connected with Jalen Becerra for a 21-yard touchdown with 8:43 remaining before Ryan Mendoza added a 29-yard field goal with 1:53 left in the quarter.
Graceland cut into the deficit with a 9-yard rushing touchdown from Javon Minor early in the second quarter, but the extra point was unsuccessful. Mendoza then connected on a 32-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining in the half to give William Woods a 13-6 lead.
Graceland tied the game at 13-13 with 56 seconds remaining in the half when TJ Shanks scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown. The teams entered halftime tied at 13.
William Woods regained the lead on its opening drive of the second half. Jalen Proctor broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter, putting the Owls ahead 20-13.
Graceland answered with another rushing touchdown from Minor, this time from 3 yards out, to tie the game at 20-20. William Woods responded with two touchdowns in the final 4:35 of the quarter.
Baum found Becerra for a 37-yard touchdown and a 19-yard touchdown reception with 53 seconds left. The second touchdown gave Becerra three receiving touchdowns on the afternoon for the second consecutive week and put the Owls ahead 33-20. The extra point attempt following the touchdown was unsuccessful.
Graceland cut the deficit to 33-27 with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Shanks to Jason Wagoner with 10:45 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Owls answered after D'Shun Wright recovered a muffed punt at the Graceland 28. William Woods drove 28 yards in seven plays, capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Kyle Nunn with 4:46 remaining. Coleson Baum then connected with JaQuieze Holland on the successful two-point conversion to extend the lead to 41-27.
Graceland scored with 51 seconds remaining on Minor's 4-yard touchdown run to make it 41-34, but William Woods recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Baum completed 14 of 28 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Becerra finished with six receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
Proctor rushed eight times for 41 yards and a touchdown, while Nunn carried eight times for 38 yards and a touchdown. As a team, the Owls totaled 373 yards of offense, including 153 rushing yards and 220 passing yards.
The William Woods defense recorded six sacks and forced three turnovers. Xavier McCoy III led the Owls with three sacks and four tackles. Juwann Taylor, Ja'Shawn Lee-Harper and Jermaine Caruthers each recorded a sack. Jowell Smith intercepted a pass, while Wright recovered two fumbles. Chris Smith Jr. recorded five tackles and a forced fumble, and Jaquan Bell finished with a team-high seven tackles.
Mendoza finished 2 of 3 on field-goal attempts, connecting from 29 and 32 yards.
The Owls are over .500 for the first time in program history. They return to action next Saturday, October 3rd at home against Missouri Valley. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
