Football | 10/9/2011 1:42:00 AM
Box Score Box Score
Azusa, Calif. – McPherson College led No. 12 Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 7-6 midway through the first quarter, but the Cougars 48 to 14 the rest of the way en route to a 54-21 victory at Citrus Stadium Saturday evening in non-conference action.
Junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass led the Bulldogs with 216 yards on 21-of-41 passes, while rushing for team-high 42 yards on 16 carries. Senior wide receiver Andy Skinner led the team with 56 yards receiving on four catches, while senior Joe Middleton had four catches for 54 yards and junior Julius Record had four catches for 53 yards.
John van den Raadt led the Cougar offense with 120 yards rushing and 106 yards passing with nine completions on 18 attempts. Additionally, van den Raadt scored three touchdowns, while passing for two. Senior running back Johnell Murphy, who started his collegiate career at Sterling College, added 74 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Overall, the balanced Cougar attack amassed 421 yards of total offense, including 315 on the ground. McPherson battled to 310 yards of total offense with 216 coming through the air and 94 on the ground.
Following an Azusa Pacific score on its opening possession, senior linebacker Tim Kurkowski picked off van den Raadt to give MC the ball on the Azusa 39-yard line. McPherson took eight plays, but eventually found the end zone on a six-yard Travon Jones rush to take a 7-6 lead.
APU answered with two consecutive scores before Jones found the end zone for a second time with 4:17 remaining in the second quart to cut the deficit to 20-14.
However, it was all Cougars from that point as Azusa rattled off 24 straight points to take a 54-14 advantage with 4:37 remaining in the contest. Despite the point differential, McPherson continued to fight with a 10-play, 78 yard scoring drive to close the contest.
Senior linebacker Darrick Johnson led the Bulldogs nine total tackles, while fellow linebacker J.L. Gomez and sophomore Phillip Wilson added eight each.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 when they host nationally ranked Ottawa University for MC’s annual Homecoming football game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at McPherson Stadium.
