WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern will get another shot at one of the KCAC top teams when the Builders open the KCAC championship tournament against Kansas Wesleyan on April 24 at 3 p.m. in Ottawa, Kansas.
Southwestern enters the first-round matchup at (8-5) (5-5), while Kansas Wesleyan comes in (10-2) (8-2) after building one of the league's most productive offenses.
The Coyotes handled Southwestern decisively in the regular-season meeting on March 25, winning 39-0 behind a five-touchdown passing performance from Chihiro Iwata. Kansas Wesleyan piled up 292 passing yards in that game and forced four interceptions, turning takeaways into quick scoring chances and putting the Builders on the defensive from the opening quarter.
That rematch sets up a clear contrast in styles.
Southwestern has built its season around a defense-first approach and a passing game that works through a small group of proven playmakers. The Builders have thrown for 2,148 yards and 22 touchdowns while allowing just 192 rushing yards all season, an average of 16.0 per game. Their strength is forcing teams to become one-dimensional, then creating takeaways on the back end. Southwestern has 17 interceptions, led by Mary Jones with eight, and has shown an ability to flip momentum quickly when the secondary gets involved.
Kansas Wesleyan, meanwhile, has been one of the conference's most explosive teams. The Coyotes have scored 398 points, averaged 36.18 points per game and produced 3,800 yards of total offense. They are especially dangerous through the air, where Iwata has completed 292 of 426 passes for 3,009 yards and 45 touchdowns. Kansas Wesleyan's passing game is built on rhythm, spacing and depth, with Aliyah Wood leading the receiving corps with 88 catches for 955 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jazmine Whitfield has added 50 receptions for 613 yards, giving the Coyotes multiple downfield threats.
For Southwestern, the path to an upset starts with quarterback Kennedi Hayes and a receiving tandem that has carried much of the offensive load. Hayes has thrown for 1,838 yards and 19 touchdowns, completing 61.6% of her passes, while also adding 160 rushing yards. Her style is more methodical than explosive. She keeps plays alive, spreads the ball around and works underneath when needed, but Southwestern is at its best when Hayes has time to push the ball to Jones and Vivianna Solis.
Jones remains the Builders' top big-play threat. She has 42 catches for 625 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games, averaging 14.9 yards per reception. Her game is built on burst and ball skills, and she can change a possession as a receiver or defensive back. Solis has been the volume target with 62 catches for 578 yards and five touchdowns, thriving as a possession receiver who can keep drives moving. Devina Lytle has added 37 receptions for 232 yards and gives Southwestern a dependable short-range option, while Andrea Moon contributes as a complementary runner and receiver.
Southwestern's defense has also leaned on physical, disruptive play near the line of scrimmage. Andrea Moon has been one of the team's most active defenders with 57 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 15 sacks, bringing an aggressive downhill style that can wreck plays before they develop. Kennedy Wesley has added 59 tackles and seven sacks, giving the Builders another steady presence in pursuit. Solis and Jones have been central in coverage, combining for 10 interceptions and 19 pass breakups.
Kansas Wesleyan's defense has matched its offense with opportunistic play. The Coyotes have intercepted 23 passes and allowed just 103 points in 11 games. Their style is aggressive in coverage and patient underneath, forcing quarterbacks into mistakes and turning short fields into points. Laura Hernandez Sanchez has four interceptions, while Jenise Washington also has four and Zo Lucas has two, part of a secondary that gave Southwestern problems in the first meeting.
Ava Duerr leads Kansas Wesleyan with 55 tackles, and Khylie Douglas has supplied pressure with seven sacks. The Coyotes do not rely on one defender alone; instead, they win with layered coverage, timely pressure and a knack for capitalizing on errors.
The biggest question entering Friday's matchup is whether Southwestern can protect the ball well enough to stay within striking distance. In the first meeting, the Builders moved the ball at times, finishing with 172 passing yards, but four interceptions and multiple empty possessions near the goal line kept them from converting chances into points.
Kansas Wesleyan's formula is more straightforward. The Coyotes want to dictate the game through tempo and efficiency in the passing attack, force opponents to chase points and let their defense play aggressively with a lead. Southwestern will try to slow that formula by limiting explosive plays, pressuring Iwata and leaning on its own ball-hawking secondary.
If the Builders can turn the rematch into a tighter, lower-possession game, their defense gives them a chance. If the Coyotes find the same rhythm they did in March, they will be difficult to contain.
Either way, the first round of the KCAC championship presents Southwestern with a familiar challenge against one of the league's most complete teams.
