Football | 11/10/2010 10:31:42 AM
Game 10: #6 McPherson College at Bethany College
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 | 1:30 p.m. | Lindsborg, Kan. | Anderson Stadium
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
The Matchup
McPherson travels to Anderson Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take on Bethany College in the Bulldogs regular season finale. The matchup marks the 77th time these two sides have met on the gridiron. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. at Anderson Stadium in Lindsborg, Kan. The game will be broadcast by 96.7 FM KBBE McPherson and an audio stream will be provided at www.macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs enter s the contest with a perfect 9-0 overall record after shutting out Bethel College, 47-0, last Saturday at McPherson Stadium. The victory gave McPherson at least a share of the KCAC Conference championship with Ottawa University. Since the Bulldogs hold the season tiebreaker, if a tie happens, McPherson will be recognized as champion.
McPherson racked up 631 yards of total offense against the Threshers, including 445 yards from the passing game. Senior quarterback
Shane Mascarenas (Peoria, Ariz) led the MC attack by completing 20-of-28 attempts for 439 yards and five touchdowns. With his performance, Mascarenas becomes the Bulldogs all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Junior
Joe Middleton (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the receiving corps with five catches for 127 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter.
Bethany comes into the weekend with a 4-5 record after a hard fought loss against No. 8 Ottawa University a week ago. The Swedes held a narrow 26-25 lead entering the fourth quarter, but surrendered a pair of touchdowns midway through the fourth to take the loss.
With a McPherson win, the Bulldogs will have their first undefeated season and will be the KCAC Champions for the first time since 1952.
Scouting Bethany
Despite a 4-5 overall record including losses in their last three games, Bethany (4-5, 3-5) enters the weekend with a bit of momentum. The Swedes lost late against No. 8 Ottawa University, but the game showed that BC could hang with the “big boys” as they held a 26-25 advantage after three quarters of play.
For the game, Bethany outgained the Braves 463-413, including 306 yards from the passing attack. Junior quarterback Darby House led BC with 306 yards on 25-of-46 passing and four touchdowns. One of the lone negatives from the contest was BC’s struggles with penalties. The Swedes were flagged nine times for 73 yards, while OU only tallied 32 yards on three penalties.
House has impressed in his first year as a starter for the Swedes, orchestrating the nations 13th ranked pass offense per game (266.8). On the season, House has completed 53.6 percent (147-of-274) of passes for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine starts.
House’s primary target on the year has proven to be senior wide receiver Robert Anderson. Anderson ranks fourth nationally in receiving yards per game (114.7), while leading the team with 52 catches for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Bethany has been outscored by opponents 125-68 over the last three games, but averages 33.8 points per game on the season.
Defensively, the Swedes are led by senior defensive back Jeffrey Simplice with 68 tackles, including 50 solo stops and 4.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore Anthony King is second on the team with 47. As a unit, Bethany is allowing opponents an average of 36.1 points and 438.1 yards per game.
Jamie Cruce is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Bethany football program. Cruce’s highlight season thus far came in his first year when he tripled the Swedes win total from the previous season. Prior to Bethany, Cruce spent time at Northern State University and Anderson University.
Series Breakdown
McPherson and Bethany are meeting for the 77th time on Saturday in a series that began in 1920. The Swedes own a 58-15-3 record against the Bulldogs, but McPherson has won five of the last six, including a 44-17 thrashing a year ago.
NAIA National Rankings
McPherson (Top 25)
2nd - Pass Offense per Game (357.800)
2nd - Punt Yds per Att (42.500)
2nd - Total Offense Yds per Game (534.700)
3rd - 3rd Down Conv. (51.900)
4th - Total Pass Offense (3220)
4th - Pass Efficiency (168.100)
4th - First Downs per Game (25.400)
4th - Sacks Against (0.700)
4th - Total Sacks Against (6.000)
4th - Scoring Offense per Game (50.300)
5th - Total Scoring Offense (453)
5th - Opp 3rd Down Conv. (28.300)
9th - Pass Def Effiency (96.000)
10th - Penalty Yds per Game (84.800)
11th - Opponent Penalties (459)
18th - Scoring Defense per Game (18.400)
19th - Total Defense per Game (293.300)
20th - Pass Defense per Game (168.600)
21st - Punt Returns Yds per Att (11.900)
22nd - Sacks By (2.300)
Bethany
2nd - Opponent Penalties (363)
7th - Opp 4th Down Conv. (26.700)
13th - Pass Offense per Game (266.800)
14th - Total Offense Yds per Game (442.800)
15th - Total Pass Offense (2401)
20th - First Downs per Game (21.100)
21st - Scoring Offense per Game (33.800)
26th - Total Scoring Offense (304)
27th - Total Sacks Against (12.000)
28th - Sacks Against (1.300)
30th - Punt Yds per Att (37.100)
32nd - Rushing Offense per Game (176.000)
34th - Pass Efficiency (125.300)
35th - Total Rushing Offense (1584)
37th - 3rd Down Conv. (37.300)
38th - Penalty Yds per Game (67.900)
