Football | 10/23/2010 9:30:46 PM
Box Score
Winfield, Kan. – Wide receiver Andy Skinner (Montezuma, Kan.) tied the all-time touchdown receptions record, while fellow wide out Joe Middleton (Phoenix, Ariz.) matched the single game record for the second time this season as the McPherson College football team rolled to a 55-21 win at Southwestern College Saturday afternoon at Richard L. Jantz Stadium.
McPherson (7-0, 6-0 KCAC) overcame a slow first quarter to score 20 points in the second quarter, followed by 21 in the third, while the defense held the Moundbuilders (1-6, 1-5 KCAC) to just 132 yards total yards in the first half, while forcing two turnovers.
Skinner, who set the career record for receiving yards last week against Kansas Wesleyan, continued his consistent play with seven catches for 118 yards and one touchdown. Skinner’s score ties him with Antonio Real for first on the all-time receiving touchdowns list with 25.
Along with Skinner, Middleton had another outstanding game with a team-high 11 receptions for 154 yards and four touchdowns, including a game long 57 yard strike early in the fourth quarter to give the Bulldogs a 55-14 lead.
Quarterback Shane Mascarenas (Peoria, Ariz) inched close to a pair of all-time records of his own with 330 yards passing on 24-of-36 attempts and five touchdowns. He currently rests 262 yards short of the all-time passing mark and just three shy of the passing touchdowns record.
Aaron Lafitte (Ironwood, Ariz.) recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance as he ran for a season-best 185 yards on 29 carries, including one touchdown. On the year, Lafitte has 797 rushing yards and 14 rushing scores.
Defensively, J.L. Gomez (Prosper, Texas) led the way with 16 tackles, including eight solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss. Shelton Thigpen (Wylie, Texas) and Drew Griffin (Rancho Cordova, Calif.) each had six stops, while Will Powers (Garden City, Kan.) added an interception and Darrick Johnson (Maricopa, Ariz.) had a 46-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs drew first blood when Middleton hauled in a 17-yard pass from Mascarenas, capping a 12 play, 71-yard drive to open the game. Travis Eason (Tulsa, Okla.) connected on his first of seven PAT attempts to give MC the early 7-0 lead.
However, Southwestern bounced back two possessions later when running back Cory Holbert blew past the McPherson defense for a 63-yard touchdown run to even the game at 7-7.
Following an interception and a pair of Eason field goals McPherson held a 13-7 lead when Cameron Smith (Lebo, Kan.) forced a Moundbuilder fumble that Johnson scooped up and returned 46-yards to pay dirt. Johnson’s touchdown gave the Bulldogs a 20-7 lead with 5:22 left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs tacked on seven more when Mascarenas connected with Skinner late in the second quarter to give MC a 27-7 halftime advantage.
Southwestern cut the deficit to 13 on Holbert’s second score of the day early in the third, but McPherson answered with four straight touchdowns, including three Middleton receptions and a three-yard rush by Lafitte.
The Moundbuilders would score a final touchdown late in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 55-21.
McPherson outgained Southwestern 557-371 with the Bulldogs racking up 363 yards in the air. MC held a slight advantage in time of possession, 32:16-29:10.
The Bulldogs return home Saturday, Oct. 30 when they take on Tabor College. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. CST at McPherson Stadium.
