Football | 10/11/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Leavenworth, Kan. – An offense barrage by the 18th ranked McPherson Bulldogs led to a 58-13 win over the University Of Saint Mary Saturday Afternoon in Leavenworth, Kan.
The combination of 144 yards rushing from junior running back Aaron Lafitte and a 226-yard passing day from junior Shane Mascarenas drove McPherson to their fourth 40-point day and a 58-13 victory.
The win improved the Bulldogs record to 4-1 (3-1 KCAC), while the Spires drop to 1-4 (1-3 KCAC).
The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 179-34 in the first half and it was no different against the Spires, as McPherson held a 51-0 advantage at the end of the first half.
Aaron Lafitte led the McPherson ground game with 144 yards rushing on 21 attempts, including four touchdowns in a little more than two quarters of action. Lafitte leads the team with 499 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in five games.
Junior Quarterback Shane Mascarenas finished the game completing 16-of-24 passing for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Mascarenas’ favorite target was sophomore wide receiver Andy Skinner. Skinner caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Skinner leads McPherson receivers with 30 receptions for 468 yards, including seven touchdowns.
The Bulldogs finished the game with 490 yards of total offense, their sixth straight game of at least 420 yards, while holding the Spires to 210 yards. The speed and power of the McPherson defense stunned the Spires in the first half allowing only 61 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers.
McPherson took the game to the Spires from the opening kickoff, forcing USM to punt after a quick three and out. The McPherson offense took over on their own 32 yard line. It took the Bulldogs just five plays to cover the 68 yards to pay dirt, when Mascarenas connected with Andy Skinner in the endzone.
After holding the Spires to their second straight three and out, McPherson marched down the field for their second straight touchdown drive, giving the Bulldogs an early 14-0 lead.
McPherson picked up their third touchdown of the quarter after USM quarterback Daniel Robles was intercepted by J.L. Gomez who returned the interception to the Spires’s 16 yard line. After an Andy Skinner reception moved the ball to the one yard line, Aaron Lafitte powered the ball in the end zone.
The Bulldogs would intercept Robles on the Spire’s next two possessions to set up two more McPherson touchdowns.
McPherson would continue their first half domination adding three more touchdowns and a safety to enter the half with a 51-0 advantage.
The first string offense would come out for the first series of the third quarter and march 71 yards on ten plays extending the McPherson lead to 58-0.
The Spires would score two touchdowns of their own in the fourth quarter.
