Football | 9/6/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Lawrence, Kan – The McPherson offense gained 409 yards of total offense, while the defense held Haskell Indian Nations University to just 292 yards, as the Bulldogs rolled to a 61-6 victory over the Indians at Haskell Stadium Saturday night.
“It was good to get a win on the road,” said McPherson head football coach Brian Ward. “Haskell has played us very tough in the past and contrary to their reputation, their kids played clean and hard.”
“I think maturity and experience was ultimately the deciding factor in this game.”
The win was the Bulldogs most lopsided win since 1999.
Junior transfer running back Aaron Lafitte impressed in his first start as a bulldog. Lafitte’s first carry of the game was a 58-yard scamper, setting the Bulldogs up for their first touchdown. Lafitte finished the game with 97 rushing yards on seven carries in a quarter and a half of work.
While Lafitte led MC’s ground attack, McPherson quarterbacks Shane Mascarenas and Blake Jones were solid through the air in their 2009 debut. Mascarenas completed nine of 14 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. His long play from scrimmage was a 67-yard touchdown strike to sophomore wide receiver Andy Skinner part way through the second quarter. Jones completed eight of 10 for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore receiver Andy Skinner was the favorite target of McPherson quarterbacks. He hauled in two catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns on the night. Skinner entered the game with only 157 yards receiving for his career as a Bulldog.
McPherson set the tone early and continued to improve throughout. Overall, McPherson finished the contest with 409 yards of total offense, including 180 rushing and 229 passing. Haskell managed 292 yards, a majority of which came in the second half after the first team defense was off the field.
The Bulldog ground attack went for 76 yards on MC’s first two drives of the game, including a four-yard touchdown run by Aaron Lafitte and a seven yard scamper by sophomore Ryan Smith. The two touchdowns by the Bulldogs ground game gave McPherson a 14-0 lead with 9:11 left in the first half.
The Bulldogs continued to build momentum as the defense held Haskell to a third straight three and out to open the game. A 22 yard punt off the foot of Tim Keeton set the Bulldogs up for their third straight scoring drive of the contest.
It took McPherson only two plays to take advantage of the short field, as Mascarenas hit Skinner on a 35-yard pass play to give the Bulldogs a 20-0 advantage.
The McPherson offense would continue to roll in the first half, extending their lead to 48-0 on another Mascarenas-Skinner pass play and two Ryan Smith rushing touchdowns.
McPherson held Haskell to 116 yards and only four first downs in half number one.
A majority of the McPherson starters did not play in the second half, but that did not slow the McPherson momentum. Quarterback Blake Jones opened the second half with a nine play drive that ended with a nine yard touchdown reception by senior receiver Austin Bohannon, the first of his career.
The Haskell defense would hold strong on the Bulldogs next drive, but the Indian offense was still sputtering, as the MC defense held the Indians to their eight three and out of the ball game.
McPherson would score once more on a Chris German five yard rush, extending the Bulldogs lead to 61-0 at the end of the third quarter.
Haskell would get on the board in the four when quarterback Ryan Alden hooked up with receiver Tim Keeton for a 8 yard touchdown strike with 12:01 left in the fourth.
McPherson kept the ball on the ground for a majority of the fourth quarter before eventually running out the clock on the Indians.
“Our offense has a lot of guys that have college experience, and our defense is a veteran group. They played like it tonight, and took care of business.”
McPherson will be back in action next Saturday at McPherson Stadium when the Bulldogs open KCAC play against preseason #1 Friends University. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
