BATESVILLE, Ark. -- The Lyon College football team looks to remain in the hunt for a Sooner Athletic Conference title as the Scots are currently tied for second place in the conference standings. Another challenge awaits the Scots on Saturday, as Lyon College hosts Wayland Baptist in a SAC matchup at 2 p.m. The Scots are 1-4 all-time against the Pioneers. The two teams played a quadruple-overtime thriller last year in Plainview, Texas, with the Pioneers coming out on top, 49-43.

SCOUTING THE SCOTS

Lyon enters Saturday's matchup against the Pioneers at 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the SAC. The Scots are currently tied with No. 22 Langston and Arizona Christian for second place in the conference standings. The three teams trail No. 15 Ottawa-Arizona (5-0 SAC) by 1.5 games in the standings.

During the Scots' second bye week of the season last week, junior place-kicker Ignacio Gomez was named to the watch list for the Fred Mitchell Award. The Fred Mitchell Award is given annually to the nation's top collegiate placekicker among more than 750 non-FBS football teams. A selection committee reviews nominees and selects the recipient based on excellence on the football field and in the community. Each month during the season, the committee solicits worthy candidates from college athletic communication professionals and distributes a Watch List for the award.

So far this season, Gomez has converted 10-of-15 field goal attempts and 16-of-17 point after touchdown attempts. He currently leads the NAIA in total field goals and field goals per game (1.7). He ranks sixth in the NAIA in scoring per game for kickers (7.7) and eighth in total scoring for kickers (46).

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Wayland Baptist enters this weekend's contest at 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the SAC. The Pioneers are coming off a 24-14 road win at SAGU last weekend.

Mitchell Parsley will likely get the start at quarterback on Saturday for the Pioneers. Parsley has completed 88-of-159 passes for 1,144 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He currently ranks in the top 15 in passing yards per game (228.8), which is the second-best mark in the SAC. Parsley's favorite targets are Brayln Kirby and Daniel Hurn. Kirby leads all WBU receivers in receptions (29), receiving yards (487) and touchdown receptions (5), while Hurn ranks second in each of those categories with 24 catches for 206 yards and three scores.

Casey Buck and Manny Arguijo lead the Pioneers defense. Buck has racked up a team-high of 48 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. He has also intercepted one pass. Arguijo is second on the team with 44 total tackles, but leads WBU with 10 tackles-for-loss and two fumble recoveries. He also has 2.5 sacks and one interception on the year.

UP NEXT

Following this weekend's game against Wayland Baptist, the Scots will head to Arizona and look to knock off No. 15 OUAZ on Nov. 2 at 9 p.m. (CT).

Football Contact: Matt Jagodzinski | 870-307-7516 | matthew.jagodzinski@lyon.edu
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