Football | 11/2/2013 11:49:00 PM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – It was a game of explosive plays and a lot of scoring for Senior Day at McPherson College. Unfortunately for Mac, the Warriors put more points on the scoreboard, as they claimed the 56-37 win. The 'Dogs are now 3-6 for the year and 2-5 against KCAC teams.
MC started the game by putting together a nice drive, moving the ball on the ground and through the air but all that came to a halt when a fumble by Mac was recovered by Sterling. The Warriors then drove to the McPherson five but could not get a fake field goal to work, giving it back to McPherson. The Bulldogs had a three-and-out and on the first play of the ensuing possession, SC broke off a 42-yard touchdown run, going up 7-0.
Sterling got another touchdown on a big play, scoring on a 58-yard halfback pass early in the second quarter. MC responded with an 11-play drive that ate over four minutes of clock, pulling within a touchdown after Tremon Robinson (Dallas, Texas) picked up a fumble and dove into the end zone.
The Warriors, on a third and 15 found their way into the end zone on yet another big play, an 80-yard TD pass, jumping ahead 21-7 midway through the second. McPherson answered again with three-straight completions by Jordan Hoffman (McCordsville, Ind.)including a 30-yard strike to Robinson for the touchdown.
SC would then score on their fourth-straight possession, moving their lead back to 14. Mac refused to back down, going tit-for-tat with the Warriors; following a 61-yard run by Isaiah Franklin (Wichita, Kan.), Havelock Pomele (San Jose, Calif.) got his first TD of the day, moving the score to 28-21 Sterling.
With three minute left in the second, the Warriors took two and a half to find the end zone for the fifth time, having a 35-21 advantage heading into the locker room.
Sticking with the trend, both squads scored on the opening possession of the second half; MC's was run in by Pomele. A couple quick series by each team put the ball back in the Warriors' hands which they scored on, going up 49-27.
Mike Phillips (Spring Branch, Texas) knocked in his ninth field goal of the year early in the final quarter. SC came right back and matched the three points, plus four, moving the score to 56-30 with three minutes to play. McPherson scored on their final possession of the day as Hoffman found Robinson for a second time.
Sterling ran out the final minute of the game, allowing them to maintain their co-KCAC leading season after the 56-37 triumph.
MC racked up 454 yards in the loss with 162 coming from the ground game which was led by Pomele with his 79 yards on 18 carries; Franklin tallied 58 net yards on two attempts. Hoffman had an impressive stat line, going 25-of-32 for 292 yards with no interceptions and two scores. Robinson pulled in eight grabs for 120 yards and a pair of TDs. Jon White (Aurora, Colo.) was second on the reception list with five for 84 yards; Michael Ramos (Sachse, Texas) caught four for 38 before being sidelined with an injury.
If you take away Sterling's 267 yards they racked up on their five big scoring plays, the Bulldog D would have only allowed 312 total offense for the day. Unfortunately, those yards do count and as such Mac surrendered 579 to the Warriors. 202 of SC's yards were on the ground while 377 was passing yardage. Seniors Tyler Bruton (McPherson, Kan.) and Cole Long (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) posted nine tackles apiece to lead the team; they were followed by Dominique Henderson (Wichita, Kan.) who had eight.
McPherson is on the road for their remaining two games of 2013. The 'Dogs travel to county-rival Bethany, which will be coming off a 24-17 upset of No. 7 Tabor, on November 9th and then finish up the season at Southwestern on the 16th; both contests are set for 1:30 p.m. (CT) star times.
