Football | 9/24/2011 11:10:00 PM
Box Score Box Score
Wichita, Kan. – The Bulldog defense forced four Falcon turnovers, as the McPherson College football team defeated Friends University 31-17 Saturday at Adair-Austin Stadium.
With the win, McPherson improves to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play while the Friends fall to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Bulldog defense held the Falcon offense to 326 yards total offense, including a season-best 47 yards through the air. Additionally, McPherson forced four Falcon turnovers, including a DaMarcus Trotter (Kansas City, Mo.) interception that setup a 25-yard field goal for the Bulldogs.
McPherson senior running back Travon Jones (Fresno, Calif.) paced the ground attack with 98 yards rushing, including a pair of touchdowns, while junior quarterback Jake Snodgrass (Derby, Kan.) finished the game 9-of-16 for 160 yards and two touchdown passes.
Senior wide receivers Joe Middleton (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Chase Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.) had three catches with Middleton leading the way with 66 yards, including a 46-yard reception that set up a MC touchdown. Senior wide receiver Andy Skinner (Montezuma, Kan.) caught MC’s other passing score.
As a team, the Bulldogs presented a balanced attack of 115 rushing yards and 160 passing yards to gain a total of 275 yards on the evening.
After receiving the opening kickoff, Friends moved the ball 66 yards in 14 plays, capped by a Jeran Trotter five-yard touchdown run, to take a 7-0 lead at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter. However, McPherson matched the Falcons opening drive with a seven play, 60-yard drive of their own to tie the score, 7-7. The Bulldog score came on a Snodgrass to Middleton nine-yard fade pattern to the corner of the end zone.
After failing to take advantage of a Friends University fumbled kickoff, Trotter picked off Falcon quarterback Jayme Bristow at the Friends 13 yard-line setting up a short field for the Bulldogs. However, the Falcon defense held strong forcing MC settle for a 25-yard field goal by freshman placekicker Nick Kouth (Lubbock, Texas) to give the Bulldogs a 10-7 advantage.
McPherson utilized the momentum from the sloppy Friends play to outscore the Falcons 14-3 in the second quarter and give MC a 24-10 halftime lead. The Bulldogs scores came on a 18-yard pass from Snodgrass to Skinner and an eight-yard run by Jones.
Friends cut the Bulldog lead to 24-17 on their opening drive of the second half, as the Falcons took 10 plays to march 92 yards to pay dirt. However, much like they did all night, McPherson answered on the very next possession with Jones’ second touchdown of the evening, 31-17 Bulldogs.
The Bulldog defense notched seven tackles for loss and three sacks, led by junior linebacker J.L. Gomez (Prosper, Texas) and sophomore defensive back Phillip Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) who had a team-high 12 tackles apiece. Senior defensive lineman Charles Ryan (Los Angeles, Calif.) continues to be a disruptive force for the Bulldogs, finishing the night with two tackles for loss and two sacks.
McPherson continues conference action next weekend when they host Bethel College at McPherson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CST).
