Football | 9/15/2013 12:08:00 AM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – The Bulldog defense may have bent on Saturday, but they never broke. Multiple red-zone stops by the D helped preserve the 34-0 victory over Graceland University for McPherson. The KCAC split with the HAAC in the series between the two conferences.
"We definitely took a step forward tonight," said head coach Pete Sterbick. "We created turnovers and limited our own mistakes; those two aspects were a big reason we were able to have the result that we did.
"Our defense really carried us throughout the game and allowed us to break things open in the second half offensively. I really like how hard our guys are playing, we have a passion right now that we haven't had since we took over as a staff a year and a half ago. The challenge now is to keep progressing as we move into KCAC play."
The first score of the game was a good indication of how things were going to pan out for GU as a fumble by their quarterback was picked up by Dominique Henderson (Wichita, Kan.) and ran back 70 yards for six points. A strong five play, 50+ yard drive on their next possession put the Bulldogs ahead by two touchdowns; Terrance Jones (Wichita, Kan.) made his way past the goal line by taking a page out of Havelock Pomele's (San Jose, Calif.) book by knocking down a few defenders along the way.
Michael Phillips (Spring Branch, Texas) knocked in a 33-yarder at the start of the second quarter to give Mac a 17-0 lead which they carried into the locker room.
Only one touchdown was scored in the third quarter coming from the hands of Jordan Hoffman (McCordsville, Ind.) as he found Jon White (Aurora, Colo.) in the back corner of the end zone to cap off a 10-play 79-yard drive. In the opening minutes of the game's final period, Phillips kicked in his second 33-yard field goal, putting MC up 27-0.
Six plays later and the Bulldogs had the ball again but they didn't hold on to it for long as on the first play, Hoffman hooked up with Tremon Robinson (Dallas, Texas) for a 59-yard flea flicker with 9:31 left in the game. As the clock hit 0:00, MC celebrated their first victory of the young season.
McPherson ran for 133 yards, 79 coming from Jones and 36 from senior Scott Thibodeaux (Tonopah, Nev.) Through the air, 199 net yards were tallied by the 'Dogs. Hoffman tabulated 175 with Michael Ramos (Sachse, Texas) leading the squad in receptions with four for 37 while Robinson led the team in yards with 67 coming on two catches.
Senior Phillip Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) recorded a team-high 13 tackles, eight of which were solo; he also had one tackle for a loss and one pass breakup. Linebacker Cole Long (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) was next in line with his 10 tackles, six were assisted. Trea Lott (Sterling, Kan.) and Tyler Bruton (McPherson, Kan.) each logged eight tackles and one interception. Chris Ellison (Red Oak, Texas) led the team in sacks as he got to the quarterback two times; he had four other tackles from his defensive end position.
Check out the post game interview with Coach Sterbick, click here.
The third-straight home game for McPherson will bring in Bethel College for the first conference contest of the 2013 season. BC, coming off an overtime loss to Central Methodist, travels to Mac for a 7:00 p.m. showdown on September 21st.
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