Football | 10/28/2010 11:23:12 AM
Game 8 : #6 McPherson College vs Tabor College
Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 | 1:30 p.m. | McPherson, Kan. | McPherson Stadium
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats
Live Audio
The Matchup
McPherson returns to McPherson Stadium for a KCAC matchup with the Tabor College Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. A win by the Bulldogs will be a major step forward in their quest for their first KCAC championship since 1952. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and Blue Jays is set for 1:30 p.m. (CST) with play by play provided by 96.7 FM KBBE McPherson. The audio and live stats can be viewed at www.macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs go into the game with an unblemished 7-0 overall record and 6-0 in conference action following a 55-21 victory at Southwestern College a week ago. McPherson opened the scoring with a methodical 12 play, 71-yard drive to open the game and never looked back. The Bulldogs took total control of the game late in the second quarter when linebacker Darrick Johnson picked up a fumble and raced 46 yards to pay dirt. The score gave McPherson a 20-7 advantage.
Junior wide receiver
Andy Skinner (Montezuma, Kan.) tied the McPherson all-time receiving touchdown record of 25 with a 47-yard pitch and catch from quarterback
Shane Mascarenas (Peoria, Ariz). Skinner finished the afternoon with seven catches for 118 yards, while Mascarenas completed 24-of-36 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns.
Joe Middleton (Phoenix, Ariz.) caught four of Mascarenas’ five touchdowns.
As a team, McPherson outgained the Builders 557 to 371, including 194 yards on the ground.
Aaron Lafitte (Ironwood, Ariz.) led the MC rushing attack with a career-high 185 yards on 29 carries.
Tabor enters Saturday with a 2-5 record and 2-4 mark in league play following a 55-7 blowout victory against Bethel College. The Blue Jay’s posted 454 yards of total offense. Quarterback Joey Erickson completed 14-of-25 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns to lead the offensive attack.
After Tabor, McPherson will remain home for its final game regular season game of the year at McPherson Stadium, as the Bulldogs play host to the Bethel Threshers. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
Series Breakdown
Tabor holds a slight, 21-19-1 all-time edge between the two schools. McPherson snapped a seven game Tabor winning streak in 2007. The two sides have traded victories over the past three seasons, including a 43-10 McPherson win a year ago.
Scouting Tabor
Tabor enters the game with a 2-5 overall record and a 2-4 mark in KCAC play. TC’s two victories came against Bethany College on Sept. 18 and last week against Bethel College. Against the Threshers, TC tallied 454 yards of total offense, including 279 on the ground en route to the 55-7 blowout win. Nine different Blue Jay’s recorded carries, led by James Monroe’s seven carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite their record, the return of head coach Mike Gardner has given the Blue Jays a different attitude in 2010. In 2009, TC ranked amongst the bottom third of the conference in every offensive category and possessed the league’s worst total defense and scoring defense. In 2010, the Jays have improved their passing attack to third in the KCAC and ninth nationally averaging 294.4 yards per game.
Although the offensive output is improved, the Jays are still struggling with consistency on defense. As a team, they are allowing opponents an average of 30.6 points per game, including 55 points to Ottawa University and 48 to Peru State. TC’s total defense ranks sixth in the KCAC, allowing teams 408.6 yards per game.
Second year quarterback Joey Erickson has been a key component of Tabor’s improved passing attack. The San Marcos, Calif. native ranks among the top 10 nationally in total offensive yards per game (333.6), total total offense (2335), passing yards per game (292.1) and total passing (2045). Erickson has thrown for more than 220 yards in six of TC’s seven games, including a 511 yard performance
against Peru State. On the season, Erickson has completed 53.7 percent (166-of-309) passes for 2,045 yards and 14 touchdowns. Turnovers have been his Achilles heel, as the senior has thrown 16 interceptions.
Erickson also leads the Blue Jay ground game with 71 carries for 290 yards. He is averaging 41.4 yards per game on the ground.
Sophomore Duray Gardener leads a trio of athletic receivers for the Jays. Gardener has 53 catches for a team best 688 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-3, 205 pound wide receiver averages 98.3 yards per game and set a career-high with 219 yards on 14 receptions against Peru State. Gardener’s running mates, Aziz Spellman-Smith and Kelsei Brown average 65.4 and 48.9 yards per game respectively.
Spencer Brown and Charles Urrutia led the TC defense with 44 tackles apiece. In addition to the tackles, Brown owns a team leading three interceptions.
Head coach Mike Gardner is in his second stint with the Tabor College football team following a brief stop at Malone University. In 2005 led the team to an 11-1 record and a berth into the NAIA playoffs.
NAIA - National Rankings
McPherson
2nd - Pass Offense per Game (360.0)
2nd - Total Offense Yds per Game (542.1)
3rd - Scoring Offense per Game (52.3)
3rd - Pass Efficiency (171.0)
3rd - Punt Yds per Att (42.2)
4th - Total Pass Offense (2520)
4th - Total Scoring Offense (366)
4th - First Downs per Game (26.1)
4th - Total Sacks Against (4.0)
5th - Sacks Against (0.6)
6th - 3rd Down Conv. (48.2)
8th - Opp 3rd Down Conv. (28.7)
10th - Penalty Yds per Game (88.1)
11th - Sacks By (2.6)
14th - Opponent Penalties (384)
15th - Rushing Defense per Game (106.9)
16th - Pat Kicking (0.98)
19th - Total Sacks By (18.5)
25th - Pass Def Effiency (107.3)
25th - Punt Returns Yds per Att (11.4)
Tabor
6th - Total Sacks Against (5.0)
7th - Sacks Against (0.7)
9th - Pass Offense per Game (294.4)
10th - First Downs per Game (23.1)
11th - Opponent Penalties (366)
13th - Total Pass Offense (2061)
17th - 3rd Down Conv. (43.2)
19th - KickOff Returns Yds per Att (21.2)
23th - Total Offense Yds per Game (406.7)
29th - 4th Down Conv. (52.6)
35th - Pat Kicking (0.923)
36th - Scoring Offense per Game (27.9)
45th - Total Scoring Offense (195)
45th - Pass Def Effiency (122.6)
