Football | 8/30/2011 9:53:00 AM
Game 1: No. 12 McPherson College at No. 11 Missouri Valley College
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 | Volney C. Ashford Stadium | Marshall, Mo. | 6 p.m. (CST)
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The Matchup
McPherson College opens its 89th season of play on Saturday, Sept. 3, when the Bulldogs travel to Marshall, Mo. to take on No. 11 Missouri Valley College in the 2011 season opener. Game time for the second meeting between the two schools is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CST) at Volney C. Ashford Stadium.
McPherson enters the season following arguably its greatest year to date, as the Bulldogs rolled through 2010 with a 10-0 regular season record to earn the programs first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 58 years. Additionally, the Bulldogs made their second consecutive NAIA Football Championship Series when they hosted McKendree Unviersity (Ill.). McPherson fell to the Bearcats, 38-14.
The Bulldogs open the season ranked No. 12 in the preseason NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25, but have numerous question marks following the graduation of 13 starters, including nine on the defensive side of the football. However, McPherson returns a strong core including All-Americans Andy Skinner and David Kraft, along with All-KCAC performers Joe Middleton, J.L. Gomez and Drew Thomsen.
Missouri Valley is a member of the Heart of America Conference and is coming off a 8-2 season in 2010. The Vikings two losses on the season came against NAIA playoff teams Lindenwood University and MidAmerica Nazarene University. Missouri Valley, a traditional power in the NAIA, ranks 11th in the preseason NAIA coaches’ poll.
The Series
Saturday’s meeting will be the second between the two schools, as Missouri Valley won the original matchup, 36-3. McPherson hasn’t fared well against Heart of American Conference opponents, as the Bulldogs own a 10-37-3 record against the conference. MC’s last victory came in 1990 when the Bulldogs knocked off MidAmerican Nazarene University, 19-6.
Scouting Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley College is nationally recognized as one of the most successful football programs in the NAIA, as the Vikings own 17 conference championships, two national runner-up finishes and one small college national championship in its history. Missouri Valley owns a 68-31 record over the past nine seasons, including an 8-2 mark in 2010. The Vikings are members of the Heart of American Conference.
The Vikings feature a strong defense that ranked first nationally in rushing defense per game (40.5), second in total defense per game (209.0) and third in total sacks (37.0). The cornerstone of Missouri Valley’s defense is senior defensive end Richard Wick. Wick, a 6-2, 240-pound native of Brawley, Calif., led the team in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (14.0) in 2010 to earn All-HAAC first team honors and a spot on the AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-American team. Earlier this summer, Wick was named to Victory Sports Network’s (VSN) Super 6 and was picked by the media outlet as the top defensive lineman in the country.
In addition to Wick, senior middle linebacker Adam Maher is a force in the midst of the Vikings 3-4 defensive scheme. Maher, picked to VSN’s Super 72 as the fifth best linebacker in the country, tallied 46 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and five sacks a season ago.
Offensively, the Vikings averaged 354.6 yards per game to rank 42nd in the NAIA. Missouri Valley also ranked 41st in passing (203.3 yards per game) and 43rd in rushing (151.3 yards per game). MVC must replace its starting quarterback and top wide receiver from a year ago. However, the Vikings return four starters on the offensive line and its top running back from 2010.
Missouri Valley plays a power style of football with the ‘I’ formation as its base offense.
In the special teams department, the Vikings will rely on senior punter Chris Heale and freshman placekicker Jakeb Brasfield. Senior wide receiver Wayne Williams is slated as the team’s primary returner. Williams recorded one kickoff return for 27 yards in 2010.
Missouri Valley Head Coach Paul Troth
Paul Troth is entering his ninth season as the head coach of Missouri Valley College. Troth owns a 106-43 career record and 68-31 mark with the Vikings. He is a two-time AFCA Region III Coach of the Year and has twice led MVC to the NAIA national semifinal games. Troth’s best season came in 2006, as he led the Vikings to a 13-1 overall record, an HAAC Championship and a No. 3 final ranking in the NAIA national poll.
McPherson Looks to Add to Season-Opening Win Streak
McPherson enters the season with victories in each of its past three season openers. A win on Saturday would put the Bulldogs in a tie for program record of consecutive season opening victories of four set between 1950 and 1953.
- During the streak, McPherson has defeated opponents by an average margin of 38.7 points, including a 61-6 thrashing of Haskell Indian Nations University on Sept. 5, 2009.
- The Bulldogs have limited opponents to no more than six points the last two seasons.
- McPherson is 10-15 in season openers over the last 25 years
Returning Bulldogs Rank Amongst Nation's Top
McPherson’s 2011 roster features a handful of players who rank amongst the nation’s top returning talent. Senior wide receiver Andy Skinner, senior wide receiver Joe Middleton and senior linebacker J.L. Gomez have all been named preseason All-Americans by at least one media outlet this summer. Additionally, the Bulldogs return senior offensive lineman David Kraft who was named honorable mention All-American following the 2010 season.
- Andy Skinner enters his final season as the McPherson career record holder in receiving touchdowns (27) and receiving yards (2,461). He needs just one catch to tie and two to surpass Matt Holtry for the MC receptions record of 147.
- Joe Middleton splashed on the scene last season after moving from tight end to wide receiver. Middleton led all Bulldog receivers with 73 catches for 1,220 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010.
- J.L. Gomez led MC with 94 tackles and 17.0 tackles for loss in 2010. Prior to last season, Gomez had played as a strong safety.
- Kraft has started every game as center the past two seasons.
Ambitious Scheduling
McPherson looked to bolster its schedule in 2011 with matchups against two nationally ranked teams in Missouri Valley College and Azusa Pacific University (Calif.). The Vikings of Missouri Valley open the year ranked 11th in the preseason NAIA Coaches’ Top 25, while the Cougars are listed at 15th in the poll. 2011 marks the final season that Azusa Pacific will compete at the NAIA level, as they will make the jump to D-II NCAA next fall.
