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Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

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Wesleyan faces stiff challenge at South Alabama
Wide receiver DaMarcus Ganaway leads Panthers in receiving and scoring.

Wesleyan faces stiff challenge at South Alabama

Game notes

Kentucky Wesleyan is 3-1 and on a roll as it prepares to step up in class against NCAA Division I South Alabama today in Mobile.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. in Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

The Jaguars are in only their second season of collegiate football as they transition toward membership in the Football Bowl Subdivision Sun Belt Conference in 2012.

"They're way ahead of schedule in their transition because they've poured a lot of resources into their football program," KWC coach Brent Holsclaw said of South Alabama, which brings a 3-0 record into today's game. "They're blowing everybody out on their schedule.

"They are over 70 scholarship and appear to be on the fast track toward the Sun Belt Conference."

Typical of any D-I opponent, Wesleyan will face more speed and talent than it is accustomed to facing.

"South Alabama is physical, and they've got great team speed," Holsclaw said. "They have two very good quarterbacks (Brennan Sim and Myles Gibbon) and great skill position people elsewhere.

"Far and away, they'll be the toughest opponent we'll face all year."

The Jags' ground game is uncommonly balanced with seven running backs averaging better than 30 yards per game. Leading the way are Kindall Houston, who has picked up 193 yards and scored two touchdowns, and Brandon Ross, who's gained 143 yards and scored four TDs.

The Panthers, who have won three games in a row, will counter with quarterback Chris Owen, who has completed 94-of-150 passes (62.7 percent) for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns, with just three interceptions.

DaMarcus Ganaway (27 catches, 434 yards, 5 TDs) and David Smith (22 catches, 336 yards, 2 TDs) are Owen's favorite targets.

KWC's much-improved ground game is powered by Thomas Gordon (231 yards, 1 TD).

Holsclaw said kicking away from the Jaguars' return men will be crucial to his team's success.

"We've got to be very, very smart with our kicking game," Holsclaw said. "Teams that have kicked to their returners have been burned all season. We've got to kick it so they can't return it, if at all possible."

Wesleyan and South Alabama have one common opponent that both have defeated -- Pikeville. KWC won 34-28, and South Alabama rolled, 56-0.
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