Graceland Football Secures Victory with Strong Fourth-Quarter Performance
Lamoni, IA - Graceland football secured a decisive 42-24 victory over William Penn in its first conference action of the 2024 campaign on Saturday in Lamoni.
The Yellowjackets displayed a balanced offensive attack, accumulating 462 total yards, with 242 yards rushing and 220 yards passing. Graceland's dominant fourth-quarter performance was the difference, as they outscored William Penn 21-0 in the final period to seal the win. The victory improved Graceland's record to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Graceland struck first at the 6:35 mark in the first quarter when quarterback Cade Ross connected with Gerald Monroe for a 13-yard touchdown pass, capping a 10-play, 78-yard drive. Ross and Monroe linked up again just over a minute later on a 24-yard touchdown, with Monroe making a spectacular one-handed catch to extend the Yellowjackets' lead to 14-0. William Penn responded with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Connor Neville to Amir Everett, cutting the lead to 14-7.
The Yellowjackets extended their lead early in the second quarter with a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Jamon McGlory, finishing a six-play, 40-yard drive. William Penn narrowed the gap late in the second quarter with another touchdown pass to Everett, bringing the score to 21-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter, William Penn tied the game with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Neville to Alexander Price. They then took a brief lead with a 29-yard field goal by Chris Paniagua, making it 24-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
Graceland, however, took control in the final quarter. Jamon McGlory powered into the end zone with an 11-yard touchdown run, capping off a 15-play, 68-yard drive, and giving Graceland a 28-24 lead that they would not relinquish.
Ross then connected with Isiah Rivers-Rodriguez for a 15-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 35-24. The defense sealed the victory when Charles Phoenix intercepted a William Penn pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, ensuring the 42-24 win.
Yellowjackets head coach Patrick Ross praised his team's resilience after the game, stating, "Proud of our guys' resilience today. In our two losses, we were up 21-7 and blew the lead. Today, we were up 21-7 and fell behind 24-21, but we were able to overcome.
"We were outstanding today up front," continued Coach Ross. "The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and our defensive line pressured William Penn into several turnovers. We have a lot to improve on, but we are continuing to grow as a team. Fourth-down execution near the goal line was critical today. Our guys were able to make plays under pressure."
Quarterback Cade Ross led Graceland's offense, completing 23 of 40 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Jamon McGlory had a standout performance, rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Wide receiver Gerald Monroe emerged as Ross's primary target, with nine receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Yellowjackets were anchored by Tavin Tharpe, who recorded 11 tackles. Charles Phoenix's interception return for a touchdown provided a crucial momentum shift late in the game. Graceland's defense forced three interceptions overall and limited William Penn to 355 total yards. The Yellowjackets also dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 38:03 compared to William Penn's 21:57.
Graceland's next game will be its Homecoming Game, set for Saturday, October 5, against the Peru State Bobcats. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Huntsman Field in Lamoni.
For more information on Graceland University football, visit GUjackets.com.