Football | 9/6/2012 12:05:00 PM
McPherson, Kan. – The battle of Highway 81 will be held in Lindsborg, Kansas this year as the No. 24 Swedes of Bethany College host the McPherson College Bulldogs on September 8th with kickoff set for 7 p.m. (CT)
The game will be broadcasted live on the KCAC Digital Network and at macbulldogs.com. You can also listen live to Nick Gosnell and McPherson College senior Langston Rhymes on 96.7 KBBE MidKansas Radio and at macbulldogs.com.
In their second matchup of the season, MC will be taking on another NAIA nationally ranked opponent and after falling to No. 9 Missouri Valley in a game that could have gone either way, the Bulldogs are eager to knock Bethany out of the rankings.
In their season opener, McPherson was right on the heels of MVC the entire game, despite only leading for eight minutes. The teams were within one yard of each other in total offense but the Vikings averaged nearly a whole yard per play more than MC.
Seniors Jake Snodgrass (Derby, Kan.) and Julius Record (Detroit, Mich.) highlighted McPherson’s loss with great performances.
Snodgrass completed 77.7 percent of his passes as he threw for 252 yards on 28-of-36; he also ran for 84 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Week one KCAC Offensive-Player-of-the-Year went to Snodgrass for his play in Saturday’s contest. He also ranks him 10th in the NAIA for Total Offensive per Game and 12th in Total Passing per Game.
Record nearly had a record setting performance as he came within one reception of the school record; he ended the day with 14 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown and also threw one pass for 36 yards. This places him tied for first in the NAIA for Receptions per Game, he is also second in Total Receptions and eighth in Receiving Yards per Game.
After the short journey up to Lindsborg, the Bulldogs will be at home for their September 15th game against Southwestern College. This game will be the annual Blake Reed Memorial Game where scholarship donations for the Mac2Mac scholarship will be accepted at the gate and throughout the game; bracelets and t-shirts will also be sold with all proceeds going directly into the scholarship fund.
Scouting Bethany
Coming out of the first full week of NAIA football, Bethany is the only KCAC institution to have won their game as they defeated Southwestern Assemblies of God University 13-12 in Waxahachie, Texas. The Swedes got all they could handle from the Lions as it came down to the wire with the final score coming with under five minutes remaining.
Offensively, BC was led by quarterback Darby House’s 163 yard, two touchdown day with the last of which giving the Swedes the win.
Tevis Linnebur was the leading rusher for Bethany and posted 63 yards on 21 attempts. Linnebur was thrown into the starting running back role late for BC as 2011 KCAC Offensive-Player-of-the-Year Junior Allen announced he was not returning less than two weeks before preseason began.
Brandon Martino was the top receiver for game one, grabbing seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown; the seven receptions ranks him 13th in the country.
The offensive line did their part on Saturday, only allowing one sack which ranks first in the NAIA.
On the other side of the ball, Steven Williams earned KCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors after his eight tackles (seven solo), one sack, one pass break up, and 3.5 tackles for loss totaling 26 lost yards; he places third in the NAIA in tackles for loss and 14th in sacks per game.
The team recorded three sacks, 12 tackles for a loss and one interception against SWAGU. The defense is 10th in the Nation in first downs allowed (13), 11th in sacks (3), 12th in scoring defense (12) and 14th in rushing defense (82).
After hosting McPherson, the Swedes will travel to North Newton, Kan., to take on the Bethel Threshers on September 15th at 7 p.m. (CT)
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