By Sam Kombrink
Spring is right around the corner, but if you told someone that two weeks ago they would have said you’re full of it. With springtime comes spring sports, and at Avila University they will be playing one sport that is new to the spring season, football. That’s right, so not just will fans be headed up to “The Z” to catch a softball or baseball game on a nice sunny afternoon. Now fans can enjoy watching the Avila Eagles football team, which is looking to build off the momentum they had in the fall and bring home a championship.
Ranked 23 in NAIA
This fall the Eagles ripped off five straight wins, knocked off KCAC perennial conference power Kansas Wesleyan on the road, and shut out consecutive opponents for the first time in program history.
On February 28, Avila football was ranked No. 23 in the first NAIA Football FirstDown PlayBook Top 25 Poll of the 2020-21 season..
Avila was one of four KCAC teams to appear in the first NAIA poll, which will be issued monthly in the 2021 slate of the season. Bethel, the only team to defeat the Eagles this season, led the KCAC contingent at No. 11, with Kansas Wesleyan receiving votes.
The Eagles currently have a record of 5-1 after winning back-to-back home games by a combined score of 110-0. They won their home opener against Tabor (2-4) by a score of 59-0, and their most recent win on November 7th against the University of St. Mary (0-4) by a score of 51-0. Avila looks primed to make some noise as they are eager to make the postseason after coming in third place in 2019 and 2018 with a record of 7-3.
Top Performers
Offense:
- Passing: (#1) Quarterback – John Jacobs III (1,099 yards, 12 touchdowns, 2 interceptions)Avila plays fall football this springfans can enjoy watching the Avila Eagles football team, which is looking to build off the momentum they had in the fall and bring home a championship.
- Rushing: (#2) Running Back – Malik Nesbitt (131 attempts, 645 yards, 11 touchdowns, 4.9 average yards per rush)
- Receiving: (#11) wide receiver – Devin Senerius (22 receptions, 376 yards, 3 touchdowns, 17.1 average yards per reception)
Defense:
- (#10) linebacker – Jamad Thomas (50 total tackles, 23 solo tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks)
- (#12) linebacker – Nikolas Furlow (42 total tackles, 24 solo tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks)
- (#41) defensive back – Ryan Petitfrere (32 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 2 interceptions)
Avila’s football season will resume on Saturday, March 13th against (#21) Southwestern College at “The Z.” The game will feature the 21st and 23rd nationally ranked teams out of the KCAC.
Women’s Basketball
Avila’s women’s basketball team ended their season with a record of (2-21) after losing 68-47 to Bethany College in the first round of the 2021 KCAC Basketball Tournament.
Top performers:
- #0 (Guard) Mattie Morgan – 5’11” (21.2 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, 11 blocks, 60 steals, 48 assists, 0.347 field goal %, 0.273 3-point %, 0.834 free throw %)
- #4 (Guard) Taniya Tease – 5’7” 13.5 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 5 blocks, 24 steals, 33 assists, 0.403 field goal %, 0.415 3-point %, 0.727 free throw %
Men’s Basketball
The Eagles men’s baskeatball ended their season with a record of 12-12 after a 78-70 loss at Kansas Wesleyan University in the first round of the 2021 KCAC basketball tournament on February 22nd.
Top performers:
- #2 (Guard) Brandon Phillips – 6’3” (16.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 5 blocks, 21 steals, 21 assists, 0.413 field goal %, 0.354 3-point %, 0.857 free throw %)
- #23 (Guard) Tyree King – 6’0” (14.7 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 0 blocks, 14 steals, 21 assists, 0.486 field goal %, 0.382 3-point %, 0.786 free throw %)
- #32 (Guard) Hunter Hoggatt – 6’5” (14.5 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 9 blocks, 37 steals, 45 assists, 0.439 field goal %, 0.333 3-point %, 0.608 free throw %)
- #11 (Guard) Donte Simpson – 6’0” (10.7 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 4 blocks, 32 steals, 92 assists, 0.466 field goal %, 0.280 3-point %, 0.765 free throw %)