2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season

2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season

KCAC Football official logo
League NAIA
Sport football
Duration Fall-Winter 2012
Number of teams 10
2012
2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
# 16 Ottawa †   8 – 1         8 – 3  
# 18 Tabor   7 – 1         8 – 2  
Kansas Wesleyan   6 – 3         6 – 5  
Saint Mary   6 – 3         6 – 5  
Friends   5 – 4         6 – 5  
McPherson   4 – 4         4 – 5  
Southwestern   3 – 6         4 – 7  
Sterling   3 – 6         3 – 7  
Bethany   2 – 7         4 – 7  
Bethel   0 – 9         0 – 10  
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll[1]

The 2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season is made up of 10 United States college athletic programs that compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2012 college football season.

The season began play on August 25, 2012 when the Ottawa Braves hosted the Baker Wildcats.

Conference teams and information

Conference rules require each team to play all other teams within the conference and two other regular season non-conference game for a total of 11 games. Up until 2011, the conference only allowed a 10-game season.[2]

Two teams begin the season with new head coaches. Bethel's head coach Travis Graber resigned on July 27, 2012 with just over a month before the season begins for his team.[3] Bethel named former assistant James Dotson as interim head coach for the 2012 season.[4]

McPherson's Pete Sterbick is also new to his team and a first-year head coach. Sterbick was announced as the new head coach for the Bulldogs in February 2012.[5]

School Mascot Head Coach Location Stadium
Bethany Terrible Swedes Jamie Cruce Lindsborg, Kansas Lindstrom Field
Bethel Threshers James Dotson North Newton, Kansas Thresher Stadium
Friends Falcons Monty Lewis Wichita, Kansas Adair-Austin Stadium
Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes Dave Dallas Salina, Kansas Salina Stadium
McPherson Bulldogs Pete Sterbick McPherson, Kansas McPherson Stadium
Ottawa Braves Kent Kessinger Ottawa, Kansas Peoples Bank Field
Saint Mary Spires Lance Hinson Leavenworth, Kansas Saint Mary Field
Southwestern Moundbuilders Ken Crandall Winfield, Kansas Richard L. Jantz Stadium
Sterling Warriors Andy Lambert Sterling, Kansas Smisor Stadium
Tabor Bluejays Mike Gardner Hillsboro, Kansas Joel Wiens Stadium

Preseason outlook

Immediately following the conference's "media day" on August 1, 2012, votes were tabulated for both the KCAC Coaches' and Media Preseason Polls. Ottawa University was the clear choice in both polls to win the conference, with nine first place votes in the coaches' poll and 15 in the Media Poll.[6]

Nationally, the season began with Ottawa ranked #10 in the nation and Bethany ranked #24 nationally in the 2012 Spring NAIA Coaches' Poll. Friends received votes in the poll but was not ranked in the top 25.[7]

Regular season

Schedule is subject to change.[8]

Index to colors and formatting
KCAC member won
KCAC member lost
Winning team in bold

Week 0

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
August 25, 2012 6:00 PM #18 Baker #11 Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas (NAIA Football Game of the Week) L 27–20   –
August 25, 2012 7:00 PM Tabor Bacone Indian Bowl • Muskogee, Oklahoma L 20–25   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

The season began with two non-conference games for the KCAC. Baker University from the Heart of America Athletic Conference traveled to Ottawa and Tabor visited Bacone College of the Central States Football League. Both KCAC teams lost their games, leaving the conference 0–2 against other conferences.

#18 Baker at #11 Ottawa

1 2 3 4 Total
#18 Baker 3 3 7 14 27
#11 Ottawa 7 3 0 10 20
Ottawa lines up offensively against rival Baker in the NAIA Game of the Week on August 25, 2012.

Baker and Ottawa met in the season's first NAIA "Game of the Week" on August 25. This was the sixth time that both teams have met in their season opener, and the 81st meeting all-time for the two programs. Going into the game, Baker led the rivalry 45-33-2 including a 41-16 victory in 2011.[9]

Ottawa came to the game winning the conference two of the last three seasons and with three consecutive post-season appearances. Baker has five consecutive winning seasons and five rankings in the top 25 final poll.[10] Baker plays in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, considered one of the strongest in the NAIA.[11]

When the game got under way, Baker scored first with a 12-yard field goal by Steven Stewart with 8:13 left in the first quarter, but not after losing starting quarterback Jake Morse to injury for the remainder of the game. With 4:45 left in the first, Ottawa answered back with a touchdown and kicked the extra point to make the score 7–3. One more field goal by each team put the score 10–6 at halftime.[12]

In the fourth quarter, Baker took the score from tied up at 13–13 to a 27–13 lead by capitalizing on two turnovers. With 1:49 left to play, Ryder Werts fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and kicker Steven Stewart made the extra point to put the Wildcats up by seven. Just 29 seconds later, Baker's Emmerson Clarke took a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. Stewart's extra point put the score at 27–13. Ottawa managed a final touchdown with five seconds to go in the fourth quarter to put the final score at 27–20, with Baker recording the upset victory over the higher-ranked team.[12]

Baker had two key players injured during and prior to the game. Morse's injury was somewhat of a repeat of the matchup in 2010, when he left the game due to a concussion. Just one week earlier, Junior Scott Meyer’s season ended from injury in a scrimmage game against Fort Scott Community College.[13]

Ottawa began the game without offensive starter Matt Bollig, who suffered a career-ending injury during weightlifting practice in July.[14]

Tabor at Bacone

1 2 3 4 Total
Tabor 0 0 20 0 20
Bacone 10 3 12 0 25

Tabor traveled to Muskogee, Oklahoma for their game against Bacone for the second of two games in the conference for the week. Bacone coach Trevor Rubly began the game looking for his squad to improve over last year's statistics in turnovers beginning with this game.[15] Last year Tabor completed a 3-7 overall record and 2-7 in conference play, but was picked to finish higher in both media and coaches conference poll.[16]

Bacone managed to get off to an early start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and leading at halftime 13–0. Tabor showed heart in the third quarter by scoring 20 points and made a good attempt at a comeback,[17] but allowed Bacone to tack on an additional 12 to win the game 25–20.[18]

Week 1

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
August 30, 2012 6:00 PM Southwestern #10 Northwestern College (Iowa) DeValois Stadium • Orange City, Iowa L 0–49   2,347
September 1, 2012 11:30 AM #14 William Penn #0 Bethel Thresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas L 54–0   –
September 1, 2012 12:00 PM Kansas Wesleyan #22 Cumberland University Dyersburg High School • Dyersburg, Tennessee (Big River Bowl) L 20–31   –
September 1, 2012 1:00 PM Sterling #13 Benedictine Ravens Larry Wilcox Stadium • Atchison, Kansas L 6–59   –
September 1, 2012 1:00 PM Saint Mary Nebraska Wesleyan University Abel Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska L 20–25   –
September 1, 2012 6:00 PM Friends Evangel University JFK Stadium • Springfield, Missouri L 14–27   –
September 1, 2012 6:00 PM #9 Missouri Valley McPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas L 27–13   –
September 1, 2012 6:00 PM #24 Bethany Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lumpkins Stadium • Waxahachie, Texas W 13–12   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

The games of week 1 produced only one non-conference victory with Bethany, who took sole possession of first place in the conference standings and a record of 1–0. All other teams in the conference concluded week 1 with a record of 0–0.

After week 1, the conference stood at 1–9 against non-conference opponents.[19]

Southwestern at #10 Northwestern (IA)

1 2 3 4 Total
Southwestern 0 0 0 0 0
#10 Northwestern (IA) 20 6 14 9 49

Tenth ranked Northwestern hosted the Southwestern College Moundbuilders on a Thursday night game in front of 2,347 fans.[20] Southwestern entered the game with optimism of a victory and breaking a losing streak.[21]

Northwestern dominated play the entire game. Head coach Kyle Achterhoff led his team to 649 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per play while holding Southwestern to 156 yards and no points. Southwestern's Ceth Bannister managed a 64-yard punt in the game as a bright spot for Southwestern. The final score was 49–0 with Northwestern winning.[22]

#14 William Penn at Bethel

1 2 3 4 Total
#14 William Penn 29 9 13 3 54
Bethel 0 0 0 0 0

Bethel's interim coach James Dotson had just 41 players suited up for their season opener, against 14th-ranked William Penn. William Penn scored 29 points in the first quarter alone and dominated every aspect of the game.[23] The Statesmen came into the game off a 39–14 victory over Iowa Wesleyan the previous week.[24]

William Penn piled on 474 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns while holding Bethel to just 49 yards with no scores. The final score was 54–0.[25]

Kansas Wesleyan at #22 Cumberland

1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas Wesleyan 7 3 0 0 10
#22 Cumberland 7 7 7 10 31

Kansas Wesleyan met #22 Cumberland in the "Big River Bowl" hosted in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the first of two games played that day at the location.[26]

Kansas Wesleyan secured 207 yards in the first half but only 45 in the second half of the game.[23] Cumberland led 14–10 at halftime, and then began the third quarter with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Hagewood.[27] Cumberland finished the game with 451 yards of total offense, including 317 on the ground.[28] Cumberland claimed victory by a score of 31–10.[29]

Sterling at #13 Benedictine

1 2 3 4 Total
Sterling 0 0 6 0 6
#13 Benedictine 21 17 7 14 59

The Benedictine Ravens played host to the Sterling Warriors and dominated every aspect of the game.

The Ravens achieved 429 yards in total offense with eight touchdowns while Sterling earned just 265 and one touchdown. Sterling lost four fumbles and another interception while only making good on 3 of 14 third down situations. Benedictine lost two fumbles and zero interceptions while converting 6 of 11 third downs. The final score was Benedictine 59, Sterling 6.[30]

Saint Mary at Nebraska Wesleyan

1 2 3 4 Total
Saint Mary 7 7 0 6 20
Nebraska Wesleyan 0 7 16 2 25

Saint Mary's Jerrell Young caught a 9-yard pass from Mike Keese for a touchdown in the first quarter to get off to a 7–0 lead. Wesleyan's Nate Hauptman made good on a 1-yard run for a touchdown in the second quarter to tie up the score, but Saint Mary pulled ahead when Marcus Mata ran for a four-yard touchdown and Saint Mary went in at halftime with a 14–7 lead.[31]

Saint Mary's top-flight passing attack helped give the Spires a 458-242 edge in total offense. Quarterback Mike Keese - who threw for 3,638 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago - was 30-of-54 for 377 yards and two touchdowns.[23]

Saint Mary still held a thin lead when Wesleayn's Nate Hauptman threw a 30-yard pass to Ryan Larsen for a touchdown because the extra point was blocked. Saint Mary held a 14–13 lead. But two more scores by Wesleyan in the third quarter made a difference, as Aaron Lorraine made a 31-yard field goal and Dustin Bryant scored on a 7 yard carry to end the third quarter 23–14.[31]

Nebraska Wesleyan scored on three straight possessions in the second half and batted down a fourth-and-goal pass in the end zone to hold on for the win.[23] Saint Mary attempt to come back in the fourth quarter fell short and Nebraska Wesleyan won 25–20.[31]

Friends at Evangel

1 2 3 4 Total
Friends 0 0 7 7 14
Evangel 7 7 3 10 27

Evangel began its season opener against Friends looking to bounce back from last season's record of 3–7, depending on their more experienced players such as pre-season second team all-American linebacker Tabor Cheo.[32]

Evangel's Jesse Vaughn caught a 31-yard pass from Andrew Brimhal for a touchdown in the first quarter to take the lead and Evangel held the lead for the remainder of the game. Evangel's offense out-produced Friends 419 yards to 374, with three touchdowns to two by the Falcons. The final score was Friends 14, Evangel 27.[33]

#9 Missouri Valley at McPherson

1 2 3 4 Total
#9 Missouri Valley 3 7 7 10 27
McPherson 0 6 7 0 13

The lead changed five times when #9 Missouri Valley traveled to play McPherson. Missouri Valley achieved 377 yards of total offense and three touchdowns while McPherson nearly matched with 376 yards but only two touchdowns. McPherson was intercepted twice where Missouri Valley was not, but McPherson only committed one penalty to Missouri Valley's seven. In the end, Missouri Valley claimed victory 27–13.[34]

#24 Bethany at Southwestern Assemblies of God

1 2 3 4 Total
#24 Bethany 7 0 0 6 13
Southwestern Assemblies of God 3 3 3 3 12

Last season Southwestern Assemblies of God (SAGU) ended with a record of 4 wins and 6 lossess. The team returned 13 starting players for the new season, including quarterback Reid Golson and running backs Sean Haynes and Cade Leuschner.[35]

Bethany's Darby House managed to throw two touchdown passes to offset SAGU's four field goals. One touchdown pass was caught by Brandon Martino and the other by teammate D'Andre Thompson. The second to Thomspson came with 37 seconds left in the game.[19] It was just enough for a 13–12 victory.[36]

Week 2

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 8, 2012 6:00 PM Bethel Southwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas  13–27   –
September 8, 2012 7:00 PM Sterling Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas  7–12   –
September 8, 2012 7:00 PM Saint Mary Friends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas  14–36   –
September 8, 2012 7:00 PM #11 Ottawa Kansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas  28–31   –
September 8, 2012 7:00 PM McPherson #24 Bethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas  14–0   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 2 was exclusively conference play. Two teams entered the week ranked: Ottawa at #11 and Bethany at #24. When the week was over, both Ottawa and Bethany were dropped from the rankings due to losses and other conference teams managed to earn a ranking.[37]

#11 Ottawa at Kansas Wesleyan

1 2 3 4 Total
#11 Ottawa 7 7 7 7 28
Kansas Wesleyan 17 0 14 0 31

Underdog Kansas Wesleyan ended the first quarter with a 17–7 lead and held it for the remainder of the game, although 11th-ranked Ottawa did manage to work up what looked like a comeback. Ottawa's offense achieved 512 total yards and held Kansas Wesleyan to 327 and four touchdowns apiece. The difference came down to kicking, as Kansas Wesleyan's Terry Stecker managed a field goal to put the Coyotes far enough ahead to keep the victory. Final score: Kansas Wesleyan 31, Ottawa 28.[38]

McPherson at #24 Bethany

1 2 3 4 Total
McPherson 0 7 0 7 14
#24 Bethany 0 0 0 0 0

Only two touchdowns came in the game between McPherson and Bethany in the home opener for the Terrible Sweedes, and both of those touchdowns were achieved by McPherson. The first one came with just thirteen seconds left in the second quarter when Havelock Pomele made a 2-yard run to score, and Cord Cunningham converted the extra point to put the score to 7–0. The second touchdown, also by Pomele was a 13-yard run with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter. Cunningham made good on the extra point for the second time and the result was a McPherson upset over #24 Bethany by a score of 14–0.[39]

Week 3

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 15, 2012 6:00 PM Saint Mary Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas  42–50   –
September 15, 2012 6:00 PM Kansas Wesleyan Sterling Smisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas (Warriorfest)  14–10   –
September 15, 2012 7:00 PM Bethany Bethel Thresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas  16–0   –
September 15, 2012 7:00 PM Haskell Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas  7–56   –
September 15, 2012 7:00 PM Southwestern McPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas  21–40   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 4

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 22, 2012 1:30 PM Tabor Saint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas  44–37   –
September 22, 2012 6:00 PM Sterling Southwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas  6–30   –
September 22, 2012 7:00 PM #24 Kansas Wesleyan Bethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas  33–31   –
September 22, 2012 7:00 PM Friends McPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas  18–17   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 5

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 29, 2012 2:00 PM Avila Bethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas W 1–0 forfeit   –
September 29, 2012 6:00 PM Saint Mary Sterling Smisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas  21–20 1 OT  –
September 29, 2012 6:00 PM Friends #23 Kansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas  24–28   –
September 29, 2012 7:00 PM Ottawa Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas  25–21   –
September 29, 2012 7:00 PM Southwestern Haskell Indian Nations Fighting Indians Haskell Stadium • Lawrence, Kansas  38–12   –
September 29, 2012 7:00 PM McPherson Bethel Thresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas  61–9   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Avila vs. Bethany

Avila and Bethany played their game as scheduled and Avila outscored Bethany by a score of 35–19.[40] Avila would later forfeit the victory due to the use of an ineligible player.[41]

Week 6

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 6, 2012 1:30 PM Bethany Saint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas  20–34   –
October 6, 2012 1:30 PM Bethel Friends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas  6–44   –
October 6, 2012 2:00 PM #20 Kansas Wesleyan Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas  31–56   –
October 6, 2012 7:00 PM Southwestern Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas  21–40   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 7

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 13, 2012 1:30 PM #24 Tabor Bethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas  44–7   –
October 13, 2012 1:30 PM #25 Friends Southwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas  21–32   –
October 13, 2012 1:30 PM #5 William Penn Saint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas L 53–14   –
October 13, 2012 7:00 PM Sterling Bethel Thresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas (Fall Fest)  49–0   –
October 13, 2012 7:00 PM Southern Nazarene Kansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas L 44–19   –
October 13, 2012 7:00 PM McPherson Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas  14–38   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 8

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 20, 2012 1:30 PM #22 Tabor McPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas  cancelled   N/A
October 20, 2012 1:30 PM Southwestern Saint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas  7–45   –
October 20, 2012 1:30 PM Bethel Kansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas  12–51   –
October 20, 2012 1:30 PM Ottawa Sterling Smisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas  38–21   –
October 20, 2012 3:00 PM Bethany Friends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas  7–43   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

#22 Tabor vs. McPherson - cancelled

Brandon Brown

On October 4, 2012, the KCAC and presidents of McPherson and Tabor agreed to cancel their game scheduled for October 20, 2012.[42] The game was cancelled in light of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Tabor football player Brandon Brown. The two suspected of committing the murder are former football players from McPherson College.[43]

Aftermath

Two former players from McPherson's team have been charged with the murder: Alton Franklin[44] and Dequinte Oshea Flournoy.[45] Both were on the football roster at McPherson for the previous year, and Franklin was listed as a sophomore linebacker at the beginning of the 2012 season. He was dismissed from the team before the incident and Flournoy was also no longer a member of the team.[46]

Michael Schneider, President of McPherson College said that McPherson and Tabor colleges do not have a rivalry that would account for what happened.[47]

Preliminary hearing

Investigation of the crime was handled in cooperation by the McPherson Police Department, the McPherson County Sheriff's Office, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.[48]

After a preliminary hearing on January 31, 2013, the suspects Franklin and Flournoy were bound over for trial on charges of being accessories to second-degree murder.[49]

The McPherson County Medical Examiner testified that Brown's blood alcohol level was .30, well above the legal limit in the state of Kansas. Attorneys for the defense argued that their actions were self-defense, saying "The defendants were using force to try to remove them from the premises." David Harger, Franklin's attorney continued, "Those people were armed. They then, as we know from police, stabbed the door with a knife."

Both Franklin and Flournoy entered a plea of not guilty.[50]

Plea bargain & trial

DeQuinte Flournoy later changed his position and entered a plea of no contest to a reduced charge of felony aggravated battery. A third former McPherson player testified that Franklin struck Brown in the face and Flournoy held Brown down. At the time, Flournoy was expected to testify at Franklin's trial.[51]

The jury deliberated less than two hours before delivering a verdict of not guilty of second-degree murder for Alton Franklin. Franklin was released after being held since September.[52] Reactions from the community were left wanting more details and seeking understanding about the results.[53]

Week 9

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 27, 2012 1:30 PM Bethel #22 Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas  6–75   –
October 27, 2012 1:30 PM Kansas Wesleyan Southwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas  35–17   –
October 27, 2012 1:30 PM Sterling Friends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas (Senior Day)  0–21   –
October 27, 2012 1:30 PM Bethany #24 Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas  0–56   –
October 27, 2012 1:30 PM Saint Mary McPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas (Senior Day)  26–14   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 10

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
November 3, 2012 1:30 PM #20 Tabor Southwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas  51–27   –
November 3, 2012 1:30 PM Saint Mary Bethel Thresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas  86–6   –
November 3, 2012 1:30 PM Sterling Bethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas  17–10   –
November 3, 2012 1:30 PM McPherson #23 Kansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas  28–24   –
November 3, 2012 1:30 PM Friends #19 Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas  3–35   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 11

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
November 10, 2012 1:30 PM Friends #17 Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas (Senior Day)  3–31   –
November 10, 2012 1:30 PM Southwestern Bethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas (Senior Day)  26–37   –
November 10, 2012 1:30 PM McPherson Sterling Smisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas (0)  23–21   –
November 10, 2012 1:30 PM Kansas Wesleyan Saint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas  23–38   –
November 10, 2012 1:30 PM #16 Ottawa Bethel Thresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas  51–6   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Postseason

Conference regular season champion Ottawa earned an invitation to the 2012 NAIA Football National Championship and was the only team in the conference to be invited. No other team achieved post-season play.[54]

First Round

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
41230 Ottawa Missouri Valley Gregg-Mitchell Field • Marshall, Missouri (NAIA FCS First Round)  24–42   –
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

#15 Ottawa (KS) at #2 Missouri Valley

1 2 3 4 Total
#15 Ottawa (KS) 0 7 7 7 21
#2 Missouri Valley 15 15 7 19 56

Missouri Valley finished the regular season with its third consecutive conference championship and an undefeated 10–0 record, while Ottawa entered into the game with its second consecutive conference championship and a record of 8–2.[54] Missouri Valley earned the home field advantage for the first round.[55]

Missouri Valley scored 15 points in the first quarter and held Ottawa to zero, and held that lead for the entire game. Missouri Valley averaged 6.9 yards per play while holding Ottawa to 2.7. Missouri Valley's 487 total yards was made up of 229 yards rushing and 258 passing. With 13:46 left in the second quarter, Ottawa scored and managed to bring the score within eight points, but Missouri Valley pulled further away to a victorious final score of 56–21.[56]

Player and coach awards

At the end the regular season play, the conference granted multiple individual and team awards. Ottawa University was declared conference champion and the Tabor Bluejays were declared runner-up.

Ottawa's Shane Gimzo was awarded the Player of the Year. Mike Keese of Saint Mary was awarded Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year went to Donald Anderson of Ottawa. Friends University's Derek Racette earns Special Teams Player of the Year and Jordan Barrett of Southwestern College was named the "Dr. Ted Kessinger Champion of Character Award" recipient. Mike Gardner of Tabor was declared the conference Coach of the Year.[57]

References

  1. ↑ "NAIA Football Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. December 18, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ Adame, Tony (June 19, 2010). "KCAC Takes Big Step Forward". The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas: Kansas.com/The McClatchy Company). Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  3. ↑ Corbitt, Ken (August 1, 2012). "Ottawa playing for injured teammate". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Dotson named interim head football coach". Bethel College. August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Pete Sterbick Named Head Football Coach at McPherson". McPherson College. February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  6. ↑ Brandt, Rob (August 1, 2012). "Coaches' and Media Preseason Rankings for KCAC Football are Released". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  7. ↑ "2012 NAIA Football Coaches’ Spring Top 25 Poll Announced". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. April 18, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  8. ↑ "KCAC Releases Composite Football Schedule for 2012 Season". Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  9. ↑ "No. 18 Baker (Kan.) visits No. 11 Ottawa (Kan.) to kickoff NAIA's 2012 Football Game of the Week". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "#11 Ottawa to Host #18 Baker Saturday on the Gridiron". Victory Sports Network. August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ Corbitt, Ken (August 7, 2012). "HAAC a power conference in NAIA". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Baker (Kan.) at Ottawa (Kan.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  13. ↑ Duderstadt, Christopher (August 23, 2012). "BU faces Ottawa in season opener". The Baker Orange. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  14. ↑ Williamson, Ann (August 25, 2012). "Disabled football player tackles his toughest challenge". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  15. ↑ Brooks, Kenton (August 16, 2012). "Warriors aim to increase takeaways, not turnovers". Muskogee Phoenix. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  16. ↑ Ratzlaff, Don (August 7, 2012). "Coaches, media pick Tabor football for mid-pack finish in KCAC chase". Hillsboro Free Press. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  17. ↑ Morford, Katie (August 28, 2012). "Bluejay rally falls short in football season opener". Hillsboro Free Press. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Tabor at Bacone". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Adame, Tony. "Bethany becomes KCAC’s lone shining star on opening day". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Southwestern shut out in opener". Winfield Courier. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  21. ↑ Weston-McClain, Haley (August 27, 2012). "Builder football set to end victory drought". SCUpdate.org. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Southwestern (Kan.) at Northwestern (Iowa)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. August 30, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Fahrer, Lucas (September 1, 2012). "Threshers thrashed in opener". Hutchinson News. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  24. ↑ Fahrer, Lucas (August 31, 2012). "Familiar faces leading Bethel as season gets going". Hutchinson News. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  25. ↑ "William Penn (Iowa) at Bethel (Kan.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  26. ↑ "NAIA Big River Bowl". Big River Bowl. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Cumberland 31, Kansas Wesleyan 10". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Second-Half Struggles Doom Coyotes Against Cumberland". KSAL. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Kansas Wesleyan at Cumberland (Tenn.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Sterling (Kan.) at Benedictine (Kan.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Saint Mary (Kan.) at Nebraska Wesleyan". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Evangel football rebuilding, heading in the right direction". Springfield News-Leader. August 30, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Friends (Kan.) at Evangel (Mo.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Missouri Valley at McPherson (Kan.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  35. ↑ Davidson, Bob (September 1, 2012). "Cruce: "We need to get out there and play well"; Swedes kick off season in Texas". Salina Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Bethany (Kan.) at SAGU (Texas)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  37. ↑ "NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll". KSCJ. September 11, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Ottawa (Kan.) at Kansas Wesleyan". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 8, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  39. ↑ "McPherson (Kan.) at Bethany (Kan.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 8, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  40. ↑ "vila (Mo.) at Bethany (Kan.)". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. September 29, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  41. ↑ "2012 Avila University Football Schedule". Heart of America Athletic Conference. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  42. ↑ Martin, Jeffrey (November 30, 2012). "Two small Kansas schools grieve player's death". USA Today. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  43. ↑ Adame, Tony (October 4, 2012). "Tabor, McPherson cancel football game after player death". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  44. ↑ "Alton Franklin charged". ESPN. September 25, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Second man charged in player death". ESPN. September 27, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  46. ↑ Huber, Tim (October 1, 2012). "Tabor student fatally beaten in nearby town". Mennonite World Review. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  47. ↑ "2nd man charged in death of Tabor football player". Huffington Post. September 27, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Tabor College player dies week after being beaten". Washington Examiner. September 23, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Men To Face Trial In Death of Tabor College Football Player". Junction City Post. January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  50. ↑ Pedraza, Pilar (January 31, 2013). "Men bound over for trial in Tabor College football player's death". KWCH TV-12 Hutchinson-Wichita. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Man pleads to reduced charge in player's death". KWCH-TV 12. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Man acquitted in death of Kansas college player". USA Today. April 16, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  53. ↑ Adame, Tony (April 16, 2013). "Who killed Brandon Brown?". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "Title in tow, Ottawa heads into playoffs". Hutchinson Daily News. November 16, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  55. ↑ "Two teams from MIAA, three from Heart make playoffs". Kansas City Star. November 11, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  56. ↑ "Ottawa (Kan.) at Missouri Valley". DakTronics 3000. Daktronics, Inc. November 17, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  57. ↑ "2012 KCAC Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Award Winners". KCACSports.com. November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.

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