William Penn Defeats Graceland in Heart Division Opener

LAMONI - The Graceland University Football team hosted William Penn University earlier today in both teams' Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division season opener. The Statesmen defeated Graceland 33-6 at Huntsman Field. With the loss, Graceland falls to 0-3 on the year and 0-1 in the North division.

William Penn scored early in the first quarter on a 16-yard run with 8:53 left on the clock. In the second quarter, they extended their lead after a 9-play, 80-yard drive to go up 13-0.

On their ensuing drive, they made it 20-0 with just over five minutes left until halftime. Graceland got on the board on the final play of the first half with a touchdown pass from Brandon Young to Jalan Gilliland from 14 yards out after Young scrambled away from a potential sack. The Yellowjackets trailed 20-6 at the half.

The Statesmen forced a Graceland punt to begin the second half and put together a scoring drive to extend their lead early in the third quarter. An 8-play, 49-yard drive made it 27-6.

William Penn found the end zone one more time later in the game on a 77-yard drive to give them a 33-6 lead. Graceland threatened on a drive late in the game, but were unable to come away with points.

Statistically, William Penn had 22 first downs compared to Graceland's 10. They also outrushed the Yellowjackets in the game with 403 yards on the ground off of 68 total carries. In the game, both teams combined for 23 total penalties.

Graceland is set to travel to Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa next week. They are scheduled for a 1 p.m. kick-off against the Pride on Saturday, October 24. Clarke will enter the contest with a 1-3 record on the season.

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- Yellowjackets -