Tony Adame looks at Saturday’s small-college, junior college football games (Oct. 17)
MIAA
No. 13 Emporia State (6-0, 6-0 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (4-2, 4-2), 2 p.m. – Emporia State quarterback Brent Wilson has been the comeback story of the year in the MIAA. The senior from Ponca City, Okla., suffered a season-ending broken collarbone for the second year in a row in 2014 and has bounced back to lead the Hornets to an unbeaten record and leads the MIAA in passing efficiency, touchdown passes, passing yards, total offense and completion percentage. Tied for the MIAA lead with No. 3 Northwest Missouri, the Hornets would likely need to go 4-1 over their final five games to secure an NCAA Division II playoff bid for the second time in three seasons.
Other games
Missouri Southern (1-5, 1-5) at Northeastern State (1-5, 1-5), 1 p.m.
Neb.-Kearney (0-6, 0-6) at Lindenwood (1-5, 1-5), 1:30 p.m.
Washburn (3-3, 3-3) at Missouri Western (4-2, 4-2), 2 p.m.
No. 24 Central Missouri (4-2, 4-2) at Central Oklahoma (2-4, 2-4), 2 p.m.
No. 3 Northwest Missouri (6-0, 6-0) at No. 22 Pittsburg State (4-2, 4-2), 2:30 p.m.
KCAC
No. 15 Kansas Wesleyan (6-0, 4-0 KCAC) at No. 12 Tabor (5-1, 4-0), 2 p.m. – Kansas Wesleyan gets its biggest test of the season in Hillsboro in the NAIA’s national game of the week. Kansas Wesleyan is No. 1 and Tabor is No. 2 in the KCAC in both scoring defense and total defense. The Coyotes have an All-American candidate at quarterback in Garden City native Jake Curran. Curran is second in the nation in total offense (1.957 yards) and fourth in the nation in passing yards (1,801) to go with 15 touchdown passes.
Other games
Saint Mary (2-4, 2-2) at Ottawa (3-2, 3-1) 1 p.m.
Bethany (1-5, 1-3) at Southwestern (1-5, 1-3), 1:30 p.m.
Sterling (2-3, 2-2) at Bethel (2-3, 2-2), 1:30 p.m.
McPherson (0-5, 0-4) at Friends (1-5, 1-3), 1:30 p.m.
Jayhawk Conference
No. 3 Butler (7-0, 4-0 Jayhawk) at No. 1 Coffeyville (7-0, 3-0), 7 p.m. – If Coffeyville wins, it’s likely going to have to do it in a shootout, because the Red Ravens’ defense is one of the worst in the Jayhawk. The Jayhawks are fifth in the league in scoring defense at 28.1 points and have given up 40 or more points three times this season. Coffeyville’s scoring offense leads the nation at 59.1 points and Butler’s defense leads the Jayhawk in scoring defense at 11.6 points. A Butler win means the Grizzlies have a clear path to the NJCAA championship game, with remaining games against Garden City (1-6), Highland (3-2) and at Ellsworth (2-5) to close out the regular season.
Other games
Iowa Central (2-4) at No. 19 Dodge City (5-2), noon
Ellsworth (2-5) at Independence (1-6), 1 p.m.
Hutchinson (4-3, 2-3) at Highland (3-3, 2-1), 1 p.m.
Garden City (1-6, 1-3) at Fort Scott (1-6, 0-5), 1 p.m.
This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Tony Adame looks at Saturday’s small-college, junior college football games (Oct. 17)."