Football | 11/22/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Olathe, Kan. – Four fourth quarter turnovers proved to be too much for the Bulldogs, as McPherson College dropped their first round matchup with MidAmerica Nazarene University 40-24 Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Stadium. The Bulldogs complete their season with a 9-2 (8-1 KCAC) mark, while the Pioneers move to 10-1 (9-1 HAAC).
For the first time this season, the McPherson offense was held under 300 total yards, mustering 273 yards of total offense, including 192 passing yards and 81 rushing yards. Sophomore wide receiver Andy Skinner led the McPherson aerial attack with 11 catches for 112 yards, including a 23-yard diving catch to move the Bulldogs into Pioneer territory early in the second quarter.
Junior quarterback Shane Mascarenas completed 20-of-39 passes for 192 yards, including one touchdown and three interceptions. Mascarenas finished the season with 3,201 yards through the air, including a team leading 33 touchdown passes.
Junior running back Aaron Lafitte led the Bulldog ground attack. Lafitte finished the afternoon with 114 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Lafitte is the first 1,000-yard rusher for McPherson since 2003, completing the season with 1,030 yards. The 5-9, 220-pound running back also set the single season rushing touchdown record with 21 scores in 2009.
Defensively, McPherson had three players finish with double-digit tackles led by junior middle linebacker Will Powers. Powers finished the game with 11 total tackles (5 solo), while senior Jeff Paulson and junior Scott Jones recorded 10 apiece.
McPherson struggled offensively in the first quarter, turning the ball over once and twice going three-and-out. MidAmerica tried to take advantage of the short field provided by the Bulldogs, but the McPherson defense dug in their heels and held the Pioneers to two field goals (38 yd, 39 yd).
The Bulldogs began to show signs of life in the second quarter as Mascarenas connected with diving Skinner for a 23-yard pass play to moved MC into Pioneer territory for only the second time. After pounding away with three Lafitte dive plays, Mascarenas hit with senior wide receiver Austin Bohannon on a fade route to tie the game at sixes. Junior place-kicker Travis Eason connected on the PAT, giving McPherson their first lead 7-6 at the 12:55 mark in the second quarter.
Two possessions later, MidAmerica jumped back out in front on a 32-yard pass from Tyler Herl to Jared Elmore. The Pioneers kicked the extra point to take a 13-7 lead.
McPherson put together an impressive eight play, 78-yard scoring drive, aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty, on their next possession to take back the lead, 14-13 with 4:52 left in the half. The drive was capped by a seven-yard dive by Lafitte.
On the Pioneers next possession, quarterback Tyler Herl had the ball ripped from his hands by junior defensive back Dana Henderson to set up McPherson with incredible field position at the MNU 24.
Following the turnover, McPherson put the ball in Lafitte’s hands on the next three plays and let him power it into the end zone. The touchdown extended the McPherson lead to eight, 21-13, with a little under three minutes remaining in the second quarter.
However, McPherson could not hold the momentum as MidAmerica marched 82 yards on five plays to pull the game back within one, 21-20, as Herl connected with his 6-5 sophomore tight end Juan Redmon for a 22 yard touchdown strike.
McPherson’s defense opened the second half inspired, holding MNU to two punts on their opening possessions of the second half.
On McPherson’s second possession of the half, the Bulldogs marched down to the MNU one-yard line, but the Pioneer’s defense held strong, forcing a Travis Eason 19-yard field goal attempt. Eason blasted the kick through the uprights. The score extended the McPherson lead to 24-20 with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter.
MidAmerica wasted no time moving into McPherson territory on their next possession as Herl hit Tim Richmond for a 61-yard pass play to move the Pioneers to the McPherson 12. Despite the big play, the MC defense held, forcing the Pioneers to a field goal. MNU converted the 28-yard attempt to pull back within one, 23-24.
The Pioneers would take advantage of four Bulldog fourth quarter turnovers, which they converted into 17 unanswered points on two Herl touchdown passes and a 36 yd field goal off the foot of Eric Hronek.
Scoring Summary
Final: MidAmerica Nazarene 40, McPherson 24
First Quarter (MNU 6-0)
MNU – 9:00 – Eric Hronek, 38 yd Field Goal – 7 plays, 10 yards, 4:03, MNU 3-0
MNU – 1:56 – Eric Hronek, 36 yd Field Goal – 10 plays, 46 yards, 4:45, MNU 6-0
Second Quarter (MC 21-20)
MC – 12:55 – Austin Bohannon, 26 yd pass from Shane Mascarenas (Eason Kick Good) – 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:20, MC 7-6
MNU – 8:38 – Jared Elmore, 32 yd pass from Tyler Herl (Hronek Kick Good) – 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:09, MNU 13-7
MC – 4:52 – Aaron Lafitte, 7 yd run (Eason Kick Good) – 8 plays, 78 yards, 3:46, MC 14-13
MC – 2:53 – Aaron Lafitte, 13 yd run (Eason Kick Good) – 3 plays, 24 yards, 0:54, MC 21-13
MNU – 0:19 – Juan Redmon, 22 yd pass from Tyler Herl (Hronek Kick Good) – 5 plays, 82 yards, 2:28, MNU 20-21
Third Quarter (MC 24-23)
MC – 6:34 – Travis Eason, 19 yd Field Goal – 17 plays, 68 yards, 4:46, MC 24-20
MNU – 5:47 – Eric Hronek, 28 yd Field Goal – MNU 23-24
Fourth Quarter (MNU 40-24)
MNU – 11:57 – Jared Elmore, 19 yd pass from Tyler Herl (Hronek Kick Good) – 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:05, MNU 30-24
MNU – 6:36 – Jared Elmore, 63 yd pass from Tyler Herl (Hronek Kick Good) – 2 plays, 61 yards, 0:54, MNU 37-24
MNU – 4:10 – Eric Hronek, 36 yd Field Goal – 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:19, MNU 40-24
