Football | 9/2/2012 1:49:00 AM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Bulldog football gave National ranked Missouri Valley College all they could handle on Saturday, dropping the first game of the season 13-27. The loss puts MC’s record at 0-1 while the Panthers are 1-0.
Less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, a 47-yard pass from Jake Snodgrass (Derby, Kan.) to Julius Record (Detroit, Mich.) gave McPherson the lead (6-3) but a five play 60-yard drive in under three minutes the Vikings were back on top. The Bulldogs would get the lead back in the third.
Snodgrass held on to the ball on a 24-yard option play to scamper into the end zone and put MC back on top 13-10 less than five minutes into the third quarter. This lead was also taken away by MVC on their next position, lasting 4:49 and 55 yards; Missouri Valley would not relinquish it again, making sure of it by adding a touchdown with only 44 seconds remaining in the game.
In a close, back-and-forth game, McPherson College had its share of opportunities to grab the lead late in the game but could not put the ball in the end zone. When a pass by Snodgrass was interception by DeMarcus Blackmon, it hammered the nail in the coffin for the Bulldogs.
As a team, MC recorded 376 total yards, 288 passing and 88 rushing on 69 plays. The defense gave up one more yard than the offense recorded, allowing the Vikings to gain 377 yards on 58 plays. The Bulldogs were 3 of 13 on third down and 1 of 5 when going for it on fourth.
Snodgrass led the team in both rushing and passing, gaining 45 and 252 net yards, respectively; he posted two touchdowns and two interceptions as well. Havelock Pomele (San Jose, Calif.) was the next leading rusher, going for 30 yards on six attempts.
Record was the main target for McPherson, recording 14 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Paul Rotering (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also had an impressive day receiving, grabbing the ball five times for 80 yards.
Junior linebacker D'Andre Sampson (San Diego, Calif.) led the Bulldogs in tackles with eight, three being solo. Phillip Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) and Micah Roehl (Dighton, Kan.) each recorded seven tackles on the day. Nate Tia (Campbell, Calif.) logged McPherson’s only sack, forcing a seven yard loss.
The Bulldogs will now get ready for their first KCAC contest of the season which is scheduled to be on September 8th when they will take on their inner-county rivals Bethany College Swedes. The game will be played in Lindsborg, Kan., with kickoff set at 7 p.m. (CT)
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