Football | 10/12/2011 5:23:00 PM
Game 7: McPherson College (2-4, 2-2 KCAC) vs. No. 16 Ottawa University (4-2, 4-0 KCAC)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 | McPherson Stadium | McPherson, Kan. | 1:30 p.m. (CST)
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video
Live Audio
Live Stats
The Matchup
The McPherson College football team returns home for just the third time this season when the Bulldogs play host to No. 16 Ottawa University. The matchup between the Bulldogs and Braves is scheduled to kickoff at 1:30 p.m. and will be streamed live at Macbulldogs.com. Additionally, the contest is a part of McPherson College’s Homecoming ceremonies.
In addition to the live video stream, radio coverage will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio and an audio stream is available at Macbulldogs.com. Live stats will also be available.
McPherson enters the game with a 2-4 overall record after a 54-21 loss at No. 12 Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) on Saturday night. The loss marked MC’s fourth consecutive loss to a ranked non-conference opponent. Despite the loss, quarterback Jake Snodgrass competed 21-of-40 passes for 216 yards and one touchdown, while running back Travon Jones posted his third straight multi-touchdown performance with two six-yard rushing scores.
As a team, the Bulldogs recorded 310 yards of total offense, including 216 from the passing game.
Ottawa is 4-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play following a 41-19 victory against Southwestern College on Saturday afternoon in Winfield. The Braves racked up a season-best 507 yards of total offense, including 139 yards rushing from running back Michael Baer. Additionally, All-American wide receiver Clarence Anderson posted his second return for a touchdown when he took an Austin Ledy punt 88-yards to pay dirt.
Following the Braves, McPherson travels to Tabor College for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Hillsboro. The Blue Jays enter the week with a 1-4 overall record and 0-4 mark in conference play.
Game 6 Bullets...
McPherson 21, Azusa Pacific 54
» McPherson’s meeting with Azusa Pacific University marked the first time the Bulldogs have traveled to California for a game.
» The Bulldogs’ 54-21 loss against the Cougars extends MC’s winless streak against ranked non-conference opponents to four games, including losses at MidAmerica Nazarene, against McKendree University and at Missouri Valley (Since 2009).
» Junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass completed a season-high 21 passes for 216 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Snodgrass led the team with 16 rushes for 42 yards. With his performance, he now has three games – two consecutive – of at least 200-yards passing. On the season, Snodgrass has thrown for 923 yards and nine touchdowns in six games.
» Senior running back Travon Jones posted his third straight multi-touchdown performance with two six-yard scoring runs against the Cougars. On the evening, he rushing for 33 yards on 11 carries.
» Wide receivers Andy Skinner, Joe Middleton and Julius Record each caught four passes with Skinner leading the trio with 56 yards. Record scored his third touchdown of the season on a 31-yard pass from Snodgrass late in the fourth quarter
» As a team, McPherson ran a season-high 76 plays for 310 yards and posted a time of possession of 31:20. The Bulldogs average starting field position was their own 30 yard line.
» McPherson committed two turnovers, with Azusa converting those miscues into 14 points, including a four play, 40-yard drive to end the half. The Bulldogs capitalized on APU’s only turnover with a touchdown at the 3:34 mark of the first quarter.
» Linebacker Darrick Johnson led the team with nine total tackles, while linebacker J.L. Gomez and defensive back Phillip Wilson added eight each.
» Linebacker Tim Kurkowski recorded his first interception of the season with a one-handed catch in the first quarter.
Scouting Ottawa
No. 16 Ottawa University brings a 4-2 overall record to McPherson Stadium, including a perfect 4-0 mark in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The Braves are 3-1 in road contest on the year, after a 41-19 victory at Southwestern College last Saturday. OU’s only road loss came in the season opener at No. 23 Baker University (Kan.), 41-16.
Against Southwestern, Ottawa outscored the Moundbuilders 31-12 from the second quarter on, including 17 points in the third. The Brave offense showed a balanced attack with 285 yards passing and 222 yards rushing for a season-high 507 yards of total offense. Running back Michael Baer led the OU ground game with 139 yards rushing, including a 46-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. All-American wide receiver Clarence Anderson led Ottawa’s aerial attack with four catches for 81 yards. Additionally, Anderson posted an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown midway through the third. Nate Bruto and Dakotah Gettler led the defense with 12 tackles each.
Much like the past two seasons, Anderson leads Ottawa and ranks second nationally with 980 all purpose yards, including a team-high 579 receiving yards. Additionally, Anderson is second on the team with seven touchdowns, including a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns. Anderson entered his senior season as the most decorated of the Braves, including a selection to Victory Sports Network’s Super Six.
Quarterbacks Bobby Adamson and Shane Gimzo led a Brave passing attack that ranks 10th in the NAIA with a 253.8 yards per game average. Adamson leads the duo with 997 yards passing and seven touchdowns, but has not played since Sept. 17 against the University of Saint Mary. Gimzo is completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 362 yards, including a season-high 206 yards against Southwestern. Additionally, Gimzo provided a dual threat as the junior is second on the team with 222 rushing yards.
Overall, the Brave offense averages 401.1 yards of total offense and 31.3 points per game, both of which rank third in the conference.
Defensively, Ottawa has held opponents to just 14.3 points per game in their last three games, including just 10 points against Tabor College on Oct. 1. The Braves rank fourth nationally in pass defense efficiency (79.8) and 22nd in scoring defense per game (20.7). Individually, Gettler leads the team with 48 total tackles, while Bruto is second with 41. Gettler has posted double-figure stops three times this season.
Bulldogs in the National Rankings
Below is a breakdown of categories that McPherson ranks amongst the top nationally:
Team (Top 35)
1 - PAT Kicking Percentage (1.00)
21 - Pass Defense per Game (163.5)
23 - 4th Down Conversion (54.5)
30 - Punt Return Yds/Att (10.7)
31 - Punt Yds/Att (37.9)
34 - Pass Defense Efficiency (110.4)
35 - Penalty Yds/G (65.8)
Individual (Top 35)
1 - Kouth - PAT Kick Pct. (1.00)
3 - Jones - Total Scoring (66)
4 - Jones - Scoring/G (11.0)
18 - Jones - Total Rushing (541)
19 - Record - Punt Return Yds/Att (10.5)
20 - Thomsen - Fumbles Forced/G (0.3)
21 - Record - Total Punt Returns (126)
22 - Jones - Rushing Yds/G (90.2)
23 - Jones - All Purpose Yds (698)
25 - Record - Total KO Returns (285)
32 - Jones - All Purpose Yds/G (116.3)
32 - Snodgrass - Total Total Offense (1074)
35 - Rotering - Punt Yds/Att. (37.9)
35 - Gomez - Tackles/G (8.5)
