Football | 10/20/2011 9:10:00 AM
Game 8: McPherson College (2-5, 2-3 KCAC) at Tabor College (1-5, 0-5 KCAC)
Saturday, October 22, 2011 | Joel H. Wiens Stadium | Hillsboro, Kan. | 1:30 p.m. (CST)
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
Live Video
The Matchup
Following a home loss to No. 16 Ottawa University, McPherson hits the road for the first of its final two away contests this Saturday afternoon when the Bulldogs travel to Hillsboro to take on Tabor College. The game from Joel H. Weins Stadium will be broadcast live via the KCAC Broadcast Network with a kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CST).
Additionally, radio coverage will be provided in the McPherson area by 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio and a live audio stream at Macbulldogs.com
McPherson enters the game with a 2-5 overall record, including a 2-3 record in conference play following a 35-21 loss to Ottawa last Saturday. The Bulldogs held the Braves scoreless for three quarters, but were unable to overcome a 35-point first quarter by the Braves. Despite the loss, senior running back Travon Jones rushed for his fourth 100-yard performance with 118 yards on 20 carries, including a 75-yard run early in the first quarter that set up a Bulldog touchdown.
On the season, Jones leads the team with 121 carries for 659 yards (94.1 yards per game) and 10 touchdowns. He also paces the Bulldogs in all purpose yards (841) and scoring (66 points), while ranking second to only junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass is total offense.
Despite occasionally struggling with his accuracy, Snodgrass has come alive with a 232.0 passing yards per game average over the last three contests, including a career-high 251-yard effort against Bethel on Oct. 1. On the season, he has completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,152 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Tabor is also coming off as loss. The Blue Jays stand at 1-5 on the season, including a 0-5 mark in conference action following a 38-35 loss to Bethany College. TC’s lone victory this season came in their season opener against Haskell Indian Nations University on Sept. 3, 48-0.
After Tabor, McPherson closes out the road portion of its 2011 schedule at the University of Saint Mary on Oct. 29. The Spires are currently 3-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and Spires is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CST).
Game 7 Bullets...McPherson 21, Ottawa 35
» McPherson’s 35-21 loss to Ottawa marked the fourth straight loss for the Bulldogs against a ranked opponent.
» The Bulldogs allowed 35 points in the opening quarter, which is the most a McPherson team has allowed in a single quarter this season
» Despite the loss, McPherson outgained the Braves 440-362, while holding a 31:05-28:50 advantage in time of possession. McPherson presented a balanced attack of 229 yards passing and 211 yards rushing.
» Senior running back Travon Jones posted his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 118 yards on 20 carries, including a season-best 75-yard run early in the first quarter that set up the Bulldog touchdown early in the first quarter. Jones leads the team with 659 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns
» Junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass recorded his third straight 200-yard passing performance with 229 yards passing on 16-of-32 passes, including three touchdowns. Additionally, Snodgrass rushed 10 times for 43 yards, including a long of 47 yards. He distributed the ball to seven different receivers.
» Senior wide receiver Joe Middleton and Jones led the team with three pass receptions each, while junior wide receiver Kenny Pope led the team with 55 yards receiving.
» Junior wide receiver Julius Record posted his third consecutive game with a receiving touchdown, when Snodgrass connected with him on a 34-yard score early in the second quarter. Record leads the team with four receiving touchdowns on the year.
» Linebacker Darrick Johnson led the team for the second straight game with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. He also forced OU’s only turnover with third quarter interception of Bobby Adamson.
» Junior defensive lineman Gerald Oriol recorded his top performance since joining the Bulldogs this season with eight tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.
Scouting Tabor
Tabor enters Saturday’s game with a 1-5 record and a 0-5 mark in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The Blue Jays picked up their lone victory of the season with a 48-0 thrashing of Haskell Indian Nations University in their season opener on Sept. 3.
In their last game, the Blue Jays’ comeback fell short, 38-35, against No. 22 Bethany College. Tabor outscored the Swedes 21-7 in the second half including a 78-yard fumble return for a touchdown by 2010 first team All-KCAC defensive back Spencer Brown. TC abandoned their normal balanced offensive attack and focused its effort primarily on the run game, as the Blue Jays racked up a season-high 309 rushing yards, while only passing for 82 yards. Tim Rozzell, James Monroe and Brandon Johnson each rushed for at least 70 yards, led by Rozzell with 98.
On the season, Tabor features primarily a balanced attack that averages 164.7 rushing yards per game and 173.2 passing. Rozzell has proven himself as a dual-threat quarterback for the Blue Jays leading the offense in passing, while ranking second in rushing. On the ground, Rozzell has rushed for 245 yards and a touchdown, while averaging a little under four yards per carry. Additionally, he has thrown for 1,033 yards and five touchdowns, but has been intercepted 10 times.
In addition to Rozzell, Monroe carries the bulk of the Blue Jay carries with 74 attempts for 329 yards in six games this season. Monroe rushed for a season-high 144 yards in TC’s win against Haskell. Wide receiver Duray Gardner leads the TC aerial attack with 28 receptions for 310 yards and four touchdowns midway through the season.
Defensively, Tabor is allowing 27.8 points and 345.0 yards per game. The Blue Jays are led by linebacker Justin Vargas who has accumulated 48 tackles, while defensive end Chris Sanborn is second with 33. Additionally, Sanborn leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.
After McPherson, Tabor hits the road for a matchup with Bethel College. The Threshers enter the week with a 1-5 overall record and 1-4 mark in league play.
Tabor Head Coach Mike Gardner
Head coach Mike Gardner is in his second consecutive season and fourth overall season as the head coach of Tabor College. His stint with the Blue Jays was temporally interrupted by a four-year hiatus at Malone University. Prior to Tabor, Gardner was at Lindenwold University, Bethel College and Hastings College.
Bulldogs in the National Rankings
Below is a breakdown of categories that McPherson ranks amongst the top nationally:
Team (Top 40)
1st - Pat Kicking (1.000)
20th - 4th Down Conv. (56.300)
26th - Pass Defense per Game (168.700)
27th - Punt Returns Yds per Att (11.600)
34th - Total Rushing Offense (1078)
37th - Rushing Offense per Game (154.000)
40th - Punt Yds per Att (36.900)
40th - Total Pass Offense (1233)
Individual (Top 35)
Kouth -1st- Pat Kicking Pct (1.000)
Jones -7th- Total Scoring (TDs) (66)
Jones -7th- Total Scoring (66)
Thomsen -8th- Fumbles Forced/G (0.300)
Jones -9th- Scoring per Game (9.400)
Jones -9th- Scoring (TDs) per Game (9.400)
Jones -15th- Total Rushing (659)
Jones -19th- Rushing Yds/G (94.100)
Record -19th- Punt Return Yd/Att (10.500)
Jones -20th- All Purpose Yards (841)
Jones -23rd- All Purpose/Game (120.100)
Snodgrass -23rd- Total Total Offense (1346)
Snodgrass -24th- Total Offense Yd/G (192.300)
Record -26th- Total Punt Returns (126)
