Football | 11/5/2010 10:15:16 AM
Game 9: #6 McPherson College vs Bethel College
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 | 1:30 p.m. | McPherson, Kan. | McPherson Stadium
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats
Live Audio
The Matchup
McPherson wraps up its two-game home stand when it plays host to Bethel College on Saturday afternoon. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. at McPherson Stadium. Radio broadcast will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE McPherson, while live stats are available at www.macbulldogs.com.
Saturday’s contest marks the final regular season contest for 21 Bulldogs seniors, including starters Will Powers, Scott Jones, Drew Griffin, John Sobczuk, Ralph Reyes, Shelton Thigpen, Dana Henderson, Ginikachi Ibe, Austin Brown, Travis Eason, Jeff Frank, Chris Lange, Josh White, Shane Mascarenas and Aaron Lafitte.
The Bulldogs head into the contest with an 8-0 overall record and 7-0 mark in the KCAC following a 40-14 victory over Tabor College last Saturday at McPherson Stadium. McPherson scored 40 points in the first three quarters of action, before Tabor recorded a pair of late touchdowns to bring the final score to 40-14. Junior wide receiver Andy Skinner set the MC all-time receiving touchdowns record (26) with a score late in the second quarter. It was the Bulldogs lone aerial touchdown of the day.
On the day, McPherson held Tabor, who entered the game with the third best passing attack in the conference, to just 60 yards through the air and forced two interceptions.
Bethel limps into Saturday with a 0-8 overall record and 0-7 mark in the conference after a 52-14 loss to Southwestern College last weekend. Bethel has allowed opponents an average of 48.1 points per game, including two consecutive games where opponents have scored at least 50 points.
Following Bethel, McPherson wraps up the 2010 regular season at Bethany College on Nov. 13. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Lindsborg, Kan.
Series Breakdown
McPherson owns a slight 43-41-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Threshers, including wins in three of the last five games. McPherson won the first 12 matchups between the two sides in a series that began in 1922. In 2009, MC defeated Bethel 34-16 at Thresher Stadium.
Scouting Bethel
Bethel (0-8, 0-7 KCAC) enters the weekend searching for their first win on the season as they travel to McPherson on Saturday afternoon. The Threshers are coming off a 52-14 loss against Southwestern College, marking the second straight week BC has surrendered 50-plus points.
Against Southwestern, the offense tallied a respectable 345 yards of total offense, including 232 through the air. Junior wide receiver Andrew McNary led the Thresher attack with three catches for 136 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. McNary’s second score was a 64-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Jason Vail. Meanwhile, the Thresher defense struggled allowing the Moundbuilders a season-best 553 yards of total offense and 52 points. Prior to Bethel, Southwestern had only scored more than 30 points once.
Previously mentioned, Andrew McNary has been the key component of a Bethel offense that has struggled throughout most of the season. The 5-11, 170-pound Whitewater, Kan. native, ranks fifth nationally in all purpose yards per game (165.8) and eighth in receiving yards per game (108.5). On the season, McNary has 29 receptions for 651 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. He leads the team in receiving, scoring and all purpose yards, while ranking second in kick returning.
Defensively, the Threshers have struggled on the year. BC has allowed opponents an average of 442.9 yards and 48.1 points per game. Despite their struggles, junior linebacker Chris Bloss has put together a good season with 74 tackles, including 38 solo stops, 6.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks and one interception. Along with Bloss, teammate Caleb Stephens, a native of Lawrence, Kan., ranks 11th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.6) and 12th in total tackles per loss (13.0).
Coach Travis Graber (Bethel, 1997) is in his ninth season with the Thresher football program, but is in his first season as the head coach. Prior to becoming the head coach, Graber spent time as the team’s defensive coordinator. Graber’s coaching timeline includes stops at Lawrence (Kan.) High School and Wamego (Kan.) High School.
NAIA - National Rankings
McPherson (Top 25)
2nd - Pass Offense per Game (346.900)
3rd - Punt Yds per Att (42.500)
3rd - Total Offense Yds per Game (522.600)
4th - Total Scoring Offense (406)
4th - First Downs per Game (25.900)
4th - Scoring Offense per Game (50.800)
4th - 3rd Down Conv. (50.500)
4th - Total Pass Offense (2775)
6th - Pass Efficiency (161.700)
6th - Sacks Against (0.800)
6th - Total Sacks Against (6.000)
11th - Penalty Yds per Game (84.100)
12th - Opp 3rd Down Conv. (29.500)
12th - Pass Def Effiency (99.500)
14th - Pat Kicking (0.981)
16th - Sacks By (2.400)
18th - Opponent Penalties (437)
19th - Total Sacks By (19.500)
22nd - Total Defense per Game (299.100)
24th - Rushing Defense per Game (118.100)
25th - Punt Returns Yds per Att (11.600)
Bethel
35th - Pass Offense per Game (218.500)
38th - Opponent Penalties (530)
40th - 3rd Down Conv. (36.800)
40th - Total Pass Offense (1748)
50th - Opp 4th Down Conv. (46.700)
