Football | 10/20/2010 3:42:15 PM
Game 7: #6 McPherson College at Southwestern College
Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 | Richard J. Jantz Stadium | Winfield, Kan. | 1:30 p.m.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
The Matchup
McPherson jumped one spot in the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 to No. 6 after knocking off the previously undefeated and 14th ranked Kansas Wesleyan last Saturday afternoon at McPherson Stadium. The Bulldogs look to continue that momentum this week, as MC travels to Winfield, Kan. to take on Southwestern College. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (CST) and radio coverage will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE McPherson and online at www.macbulldogs.com
McPherson enters the contest with a 6-0 overall record and a 5-0 mark in KCAC play following a 56-42 shootout victory against the Coyotes. The unbeaten start and No. 6 ranking are the best in program history.
Against Kansas Wesleyan, the Bulldogs set a season-high with 629 yards of total offense, including 498 yards passing. Senior quarterback Shane Mascarenas accounted for all 498 passing yards on 24-of-43 attempts, including four touchdowns. His performance earned him KCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Southwestern enters the weekend 1-5 for the second consecutive season after an overtime loss at Bethany College. The Builders jumped out to an early 26-14 lead against the Swedes, but failed to hang on.
Following Southwestern, the Bulldogs return home for their next two games to play Tabor College on Oct. 30 and Bethel College on Nov. 6. Both games are set to kickoff at 1:30 p.m. from McPherson Stadium.
The Coaches
McPherson – Joe Bettasso (Missouri Southern State University ’05) is in his first season as the head coach of the McPherson football program. Prior to assuming his current duties, Bettasso spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs and one season as a defensive backs coach at his alma mater, Missouri Southern State University.
Southwestern – Ken Crandall (Fort Hays State University) is in his fourth season as the head coach of Southwestern and owns a 6-20 record. Prior to taking the position at SWC, Crandall spent time at the University of Minnesota-Morris, Norwich University and Maine Maritime Academy.
Scouting Southwestern
Southwestern (1-5, 1-4 KCAC) is off to a 1-5 start for the second consecutive season following its 41-35 overtime loss at Bethany College last Saturday. The Moundbuilders were selected to finish seventh (media) and eighth (coaches) in the KCAC preseason polls and ranked 72nd in the College Fanz Sports Network’s (now Victory Sports Network) NAIA Football Preview magazine. SWC’s lone victory came against the University of Saint Mary, 43-21, on Sept. 25.
The Builders have struggled offensively this season, ranking amongst the bottom four in the KCAC in all major offensive categories. Senior running back Michael Coppock led the SWC offensive attack through the first three games with 444 yards on 61 carries, including a seasonhigh 179 yards against Sterling College. In the three contests that he played in, Coppock accounted for 444 of the Moundbuilders 911 yards of total offense (48.7 percent).
Sophomore quarterback Jordan Barrett is in his second season as the starter for the team. As
a freshman, Barrett completed 49.8 percent (126-of-253) of his passes for 1,395 yards and nine
touchdowns. He currently ranks eighth in the KCAC in passing with 934 yards (155.7 per game) on 76-of-158 attempts. In six games, Barrett has thrown six touchdowns and has been intercepted nine times.
Individually on the defensive side, the Builders are led by 2009 All-KCAC first team linebacker Zak Tazkargy and fellow linebacker Nathan Richter. Richter leads the NAIA averaging 14.7 tackles per game. He has tallied a team-best 88 total tackles, including 38 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. His running mate, Tazkargy, ranks second nationally at 13.0 tackles per game. Tazkargy has registered 78 total stops and a team leading 7.5 tackles for loss on the year.
As a team, the defense has struggled to slow down the opposition, allowing 32.2 points and 405.1 yards per game.
Series Breakdown
Southwestern lead the all-time series, 42-12, although the Bulldogs won the last two meetings in 2009 and 2008. In those two wins, McPherson outscored Southwestern 89-14. The Builders had won four straight in the series before MC ended the streak in 2008. The last time the two met in Winfield, Southwestern defeated McPherson 34-21.
NAIA National Rankings (as of Oct. 20)
McPherson (Top 25)
2nd - Pass Offense per Game (359.500)
2nd - Punt Yds per Att (43.300)
2nd - Total Sacks Against (3.000)
2nd - Total Offense Yds per Game (539.700)
3rd - Sacks Against (0.500)
3rd - Scoring Offense per Game (51.800)
4th - First Downs per Game (25.800)
4th - Pass Efficiency (169.900)
5th - Total Pass Offense (2157)
5th - Total Scoring Offense (311)
7th - Opp 3rd Down Conv. (28.300)
7th - Penalty Yds per Game (92.000)
8th - 3rd Down Conv. (49.300)
9th - Rushing Defense per Game (88.200)
10th - Sacks By (2.900)
14th - Total Sacks By (17.500)
17th - Opponent Penalties (333)
20th - Punt Returns Yds per Att (12.100)
22nd - Pass Def Effiency (106.100)
22nd - Total Defense per Game (291.300)
23rd - Pat Kicking (0.977)
Southwestern
12th - Opp 4th Down Conv. (28.600)
14th - Penalty Yds per Game (79.800)
18th - 4th Down Conv. (57.100)
20th - Opponent Penalties (347)
22nd - Sacks By (2.300)
32nd - Total Sacks By (14.000)
33rd - Total Sacks Against (10.000)
33rd - Field Goals Pct (0.667)
34th - Punt Returns Yds per Att (9.500)
38th - Rushing Offense per Game (150.700)
39th - First Downs per Game (18.500)
42nd - Sacks Against (1.700)
45th - Punt Yds per Att (35.700)
48th - KickOff Returns Yds per Att (18.500)
