Football | 10/26/2011 2:45:00 PM
Game 9: McPherson College (3-5, 3-3 KCAC) at University of Saint Mary (3-5, 3-3 KCAC)
Saturday, October 29, 2011 | USM Football Stadium | Leavenworth, Kan. | 1:30 p.m. (CST)
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video (KCAC Broadcast Network)
Live Audio
The Matchup
McPherson hits the road for its final trip of the 2011 regular season, as the Bulldogs travel to Leavenworth, Kan. to take on the University of Saint Mary in a 1:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff Saturday. The KCAC Broadcast Network will stream the game from USM Football Stadium live, while an audio broadcast will be available at Macbulldogs.com. Additionally, radio coverage in the McPherson area will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio.
McPherson improved to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in KCAC play with a 28-12 win at Tabor College last Saturday afternoon. The victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak, put the Bulldogs in a tie for fourth place in conference with Friends, Kansas Wesleyan and Saint Mary.
Against Tabor, junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass had an impressive afternoon accounting for 319 of McPherson’s 404 total yards. Snodgrass completed 17-of-28 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while also leading the team on the ground with 91 rushing yards on 10 carries, including a long of 45 yards. Senior wide receiver Andy Skinner was on the receiving end of all three of Snodgrass’s TD passes with scoring receptions of seven yards, 33 yards and 15 yards. Skinner ended the afternoon with a season-high 82 yards receiving on four catches.
Defensively, the Bulldogs held the new-look Tabor offense to 295 total yards, including a Blue Jay season low 75 yards passing. Additionally, MC caused eight fumbles recovering three. Sophomore defensive back Phillip Wilson posted his third 10-plus tackle performance with 11 stops, while senior linebacker J.L. Gomez added to his team lead with 10.
Identical to McPherson, Saint Mary enters the week’s matchup with a 3-5 overall record and 3-3 mark in conference. The Spires are currently riding a two-game losing streak following losses at William Penn (Iowa) (38-16) and at Southwestern (40-31).
After USM, the Bulldogs return home to host Kansas Wesleyan University at 1:30 p.m. (CT). The Coyotes are currently 3-5 overall and 3-3 in the KCAC.
Scouting USM
Saint Mary enters Saturday’s matchup tied for fourth place in the KCAC standings with a 3-5 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference play. The Spires have lost two straight, including a 40-31 decision last Saturday at Southwestern College.
The Spires boast one of the nation’s top offenses, as they rank second in total pass offense (2,666 yards), third in pass offense per game (333.3 yards) and 15th in total offensive yards per game (413.0). Saint Mary is yet to be held under 300 yards of total offense and has eclipsed the 400-yard mark five times this season, including a season-high 503 yards of total offense in their season opening loss at Nebraska Wesleyan.
Junior quarterback Mike Keese and sophomore slot receiver Fred Edison serve as the cornerstones of the Spire offensive attack. Keese leads the nation with 2,629 total passing yards, while ranking second in total offense (2,623), total offense per game (327.9) and passing yards per game (328.6). Despite his success, Keese has struggled with accuracy as he is completing 55.3 percent of passes and has 16 interceptions on the season. Similar to Keese, Edison is a tremendous individual talent. He leads the NAIA in receptions per game (10.1), receiving yards per game (123.5), total receptions (81) and total receiving yards (988). Additionally, he is tied for second on the team in scoring with five touchdowns.
Despite the offenses success, the Spires have struggled at times on the defensive side of the ball, including allowing 524 yards of total offense last week against Southwestern. On the year, USM is allowing opponents an average of 360.2 yards of total offense and 28.0 points per game. Junior outside linebacker Cris Basch leads the team with 79 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss, while senior linebacker John Annino is second on the team with 64 tackles.
Following McPherson, Saint Mary stays home for a matchup with Bethel College before closing the regular season on the road at Kansas Wesleyan University.
USM Head Coach Lance Hinson
Head coach Lance Hinson is in his seventh season and owns a 21-38 record with the Spires. In 2005, he was named KCAC Co-Coach of the Year after leading Saint Mary to its first four-game win streak and a 5-5 overall record. Prior to USM, Hinson spent time coaching at Baker University and the University of North Texas.
Game 8 Bullets...
McPherson 28, Tabor 12
» McPherson’s 28-12 victory was the Bulldogs third straight against Tabor and snapped a three game losing streak. The win placed MC into a tie for fourth in the conference with Friends University, Kansas Wesleyan University and University of Saint Mary.
» McPherson’s 28 first half points ties their season high for points in a half. The previous mark was set on Sept. 10 against Bethany.
» •The Bulldogs finished the contest with 404 total yards, which marks the fourth time the squad has surpassed the 400-yard mark
» Junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass completed 17-of-28 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while also leading the team with 91 rushing yards on 10 carriers. He accounted for 319 of McPherson’s 404 total yards. Snodgrass earned KCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance
» Senior wide receiver Andy Skinner led the team with 82 receiving yards on four catches, including a season-high three touchdown receptions. Skinners scores were from seven yards, 33 yards and 15 yards.
» Senior running back Travon Jones rushed 17 times for 75 yards, including a long of 17 yards. He leads the team with 659 rushing yards and averages 94.1 rushing yards per game.
» Junior wide receiver Julius Record extended his touchdown streak to four games with a three-yard scoring run midway through the second quarter.
» Sophomore Phillip Wilson posted his fourth double-figure tackle performance of the season with a game-high 11 stops, including two tackles for loss.
» Senior linebacker J.L. Gomez ended the afternoon with 10 tackles to give him a team-high 69 stops on the season.
» Defensively, the Bulldogs caused a season-high eight fumbles, recovering three. All three recoveries set up MC touchdown drives.
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)
14th - Pass Defense per Game (157.000)
27th - Total Rushing Offense (1254)
32nd - Punt Returns Yds per Att (10.400)
34th - Pass Efficiency (119.700)
34th - Rushing Offense per Game (156.8)
35th - Total Pass Offense (1461)
36th - 3rd Down Conv. (34.500)
38th - 4th Down Conv. (47.400)
40th - Total Offense Yds per Game (339.4)
Individual (Top 25)
Kouth -1st- Pat Kicking Pct (1.000)
Thomsen -12th- Fumbles Forced/G (0.300)
Jones -13th- Total Scoring (TDs) (66)
Jones -13th- Total Scoring (66)
Jones -14th- Scoring per Game (8.300)
Jones -14th- Scoring (TDs)/Game (8.300)
Jones -18th- Total Rushing (734)
Record -18th- Punt Return Yds/Att (10.50)
Jones -21st- Rushing Yds/Game (91.800)
Snodgrass -21st- Total Total Offense (1665)
Snodgrass -23rd- Total Offense Yds/G (208.1)
