Football | 11/15/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score McPherson, Kan. – Senior linebacker Jeff Paulson and the Bulldog defense shined, hauling in five interceptions, in a 44-17 victory over long time rival Bethany College Saturday afternoon at McPherson Stadium. The win improves the Bulldogs to a school record 9-1 overall and 8-1 in KCAC action.
Nine seniors were honored prior to the start of the game, including Jeff Paulson, Stephen Harrison, Mark Watson, Billy Baska, Austin Bohanon, John David Brown, Sean Grandin, Casey Hayes and Ryan Parrish.
With the loss, the Swedes drop to 4-6 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
The McPherson defense intercepted the Swedes five times, including three interception returns for touchdowns of 64, 58 and 85 yards. Junior defensive back Ginikachi Ibe started the interception spree with a 64-yard pick-six part way through the second quarter. Junior Austin Brown and sophomore J.L. Gomez followed suit with returns of 58 and 85 yards, respectively.
Offensively, McPherson managed 322 yards of total offense, including 273 passing and a season-low 49 rushing. Junior Shane Mascarenas completed 18-of-33 passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Sophomore wide receiver Andy Skinner led the Bulldog receiving corps with seven catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, while Stephen Harrison added four catches for 52 yards.
Junior running back Chris German led McPherson’s rushing attack with four carries for 26 yards, while junior Aaron Lafitte carried the ball 14 times for 22 yards, respectively.
The McPherson defense held the Swedes to 315 total yards, including 54 rushing yards and 261 yards through the air.
Senior linebacker Jeff Paulson led the Bulldogs with a season-high 16 tackles, including 11 solo tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, while junior Will Powers tallied 10 tackles.
McPherson opened the scoring with a nine play 80 yard drive, capped off by a seven yard run by Lafitte to take a 7-0 lead at the 8:37 mark in the first quarter.
McPherson added a 35-yard field goal from Travis Eason to extend the lead to 10-0.
Bethany would score late in the first quarter, bringing the game within a field goal, 10-7. McPherson bounced back quickly as Ginikachi Ibe jumped the route on a Steven Baker pass, returning the interception 64 yards to extend the Bulldog lead back to 10, 17-7.
An Austin Brown interception on the Swedes next drive set up the Bulldogs with excellent field position at the Bethany 16-yard line. After a false start moved the offense back to the 21, Mascarenas connected with Skinner for his first touchdown of the day. The Bulldogs could not convert a botched snap, giving McPherson a 23-7 lead.
Skinner leads the team with 14 receiving touchdowns on the season.
Mascarenas found another one of his favorite targets late in the third quarter, hitting Stephen Harrison for a 32 touchdown to cap a one-play 32-yard dive set up by a blocked punt.
McPherson led 30-7 at halftime.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with two consecutive interception returns for touchdowns. Brown opened the half with a 58-yard return, while Gomez followed on the next Swede possession, returning the pick 85 yards to pay dirt. The two scores extended the McPherson lead to 44-7.
Bethany would add two late scores to bring the final score to 44-17.
With the Ottawa Braves knocking off the Friends University Falcons to claim the KCAC regular season championship, McPherson awaits to see if they will be selected as an at-large team into the NAIA Playoffs. The announcement of the 16-team field will start at 1:30 p.m. Central time and will be broadcast by College Fanz Sports Network.
Scoring Summary
Final: McPherson 44, Bethany 17
First Quarter (MC 10-7)
MC – 8:37 – Aaron Lafitte 7 yd run (Eason Kick Good) – 9 plays, 80 yards, MC 7-0
MC – 5:21 – Travis Eason 35 yd Field Goal – 5 plays, 25 yards, MC 10-0
BC – 0:06 – DeWayne Autry 1 yd run (Fambrough Kick Good) – 12 plays, 71 yards, BC 7-10
Second Quarter (MC 30-7)
MC – 9:19 – Ginikachi Ibe 64 yd interception return (Eason Kick Good) – 0 plays, 0 yards, MC 17-7
MC – 6:27 – Andy Skinner 21 yd pass from Shane Mascarenas (2-pt Conversion Failed) – 7 plays, 29 yards, MC 23-7
MC – 0:26 – Stephen Harrison 32 yd pass from Shane Mascarenas (Eason Kick Good) – 1 play, 32 yards, MC 30-7
Third Quarter (MC 44-7)
MC – 12:57 – Austin Brown 58 yd interception return (Eason Kick Good) – 0 plays, 0 yards, MC 37-7
MC – 9:25 – J.L. Gomez 85 yd interception return (Eason Kick Good) – 0 plays, 0 yards, MC 44-7
Fourth Quarter (MC 44-17)
BC – 11:37 – Alex Fambrough 30 yd Field Goal – 8 plays, 20 yards, BC 10-44
BC – 5:07 – Sean Johnson 3 yd pass from DeWayne Autry (Fambrough Kick Good) – 2 plays, 11 yards, BC 17-44
Final: McPherson 44, Bethany 17
Time of Game: 3:00
