Hillsboro, Kan. – Heading into the final quarter down 14-3 didn't faze Bulldog football as they came out and scored 12 points in the games' last six minutes to complete the comeback over No. 18 Tabor College. The 'Dogs are now 3-3 in the KCAC and just two games out of first place with three to play.
"I can't say enough about the effort and the fact that these guys are continuing to grow closer together and battling for one another until the end of games," said Coach Fox. "Today was one of those days where patience and persistence paid off."
After a MC three-and-out, Tabor drove the field and looked to create a long day for the Bulldogs but after the drive stalled out, the Bluejays had their 27-yard field goal attempt blocked by Ashton Serpas giving McPherson the ball back. Another three-and-out for Mac and another field goal attempt for TC ended in another Serpas blocked field goal, keeping the score at zeroes. Tabor lost the ball inside their own red-zone that led to a Christian Guerra-Barbosa field goal which put MC up 3-0 after the first quarter.
The Bluejays had another long drive that was cut short by the McPherson D as Trea Lott intercepted TC on the goal line, keeping the score at 3-0 Mac. A MC turnover on the next possession gave Tabor a short field which they converted into seven points which gave them their 7-3 halftime lead; the touchdown came with just 18 seconds left on the clock.
The third quarter was played in the middle of the field with Tabor scoring the lone points of the 15-minute period with three to go after a 13-play, 60-yard drive.
It was a punt happy first part of the fourth but then a short punt set McPherson up in good field position and the 'Dogs went 34 yards in seven plays for their first touchdown of the game; a failed 2-point conversion kept Mac needing a TD to take the lead. Two plays later and Serpas gave the offense the ball back as he recorded his second interception of the game. Kelly Cordova slowly led the team the 40 yards to the endzone as he wanted to chew up as much clock as possible while still scoring; he finally punched it in with 2:33 showing on the clock but another failed 2-point conversion gave Mac just a one-point advantage. The Tabor offense is made for running, not passing, so the Bluejays had a hard time trying to move the ball in the final minutes and McPherson got the ball back after TC went -4 yards on four plays. Three kneel downs by Cordova gave Mac the 15-14 win.
The Bulldog offense totaled just 211 yards but made the most of good situations and moved the ball when they needed to. Miles Balthazor made his return known as the freshman ran for 76 yards on 19 carries. Cordova rushed for 73 yards on 20 tries while throwing the ball for 49 on 9-of-26; the wide receiver turned quarterback recorded McPherson's two touchdowns, both were two-yard runs. Although just nine balls were completed, five different players recorded a reception.
On defense, the team held the run-heavy Bluejays to just 95 yards on the ground, their lowest of the season. The D forced three fumbles, recovered one, and tallied three interceptions. Serpas had a great game as the junior transfer intercepted two balls, blocked two field goals and logged two batted balls to go with his seven tackles. Jimmy Wilson led the team in tackles with 13; he had 2.5 tackles for a loss and a total of eight solo stops. Ben Kimbrough forced two fumbles while Evan Clary knocked one loose; Lott was responsible for the fourth TC turnover with his interception.
The final road game of the season is slated for November 1st as the 'Dogs travel to Sterling, Kansas for a 1:30 p.m. (CT) contest with the Warriors of Sterling College.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
