Football | 9/4/2014 10:27:00 AM
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McPherson, Kan. – It's finally football season and with that comes the first game of 2014 for Bulldog football. On September 6th, Mac travels to the 1-0 Bacone College Warriors; kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CT) in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
2014 kicks off the Steve Fox era for the 'Dogs as the former MC defensive coordinator starts his first season as the head coach. He will have 12 returners to help guide his team, seven on offense and five on the other side of the ball. The Bulldogs garnered two preseason All-KCAC players in Trent Forrester and Grant Narcisse, both key defensive components for Mac.
Other notable returning athletes include quarterback Jordan Hoffman and offensive linemen Will Thacker, Calon Bibbs and Xavier Bartee. On defense, McPherson brings back defensive backs Trea Lott and David Anderson as well as McPherson native Evan Clary.
The expected starting offensive squad is made up of plenty of youth to go with a few seniors; the group has six under classmen, mostly sophomores, and five upper classmen. The 'Dogs have veterans in their key positions as the quarterback, halfback and center are all seniors.
Defensively, Mac is experienced. They will start six seniors, a junior and four sophomores who spent a lot of time on the field as freshmen. Narcisse, Clary, Lott and red-shirt Jimmy Wilson will anchor the unit.
McPherson's second contest of the season will come on September 13th when they travel to MidAmerica Nazarene University for the second year of the KCAC-HAAC challenge. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Scouting Bacone
The Warriors have already had their opening game of the season as they traveled to Orange City, Iowa and upset No. 13 Northwestern College this past Saturday 41-33.
After getting down early in the game, NC returned a fumble for a touchdown in the opening minutes, Bacone battled back with a turnover turned touchdown of their own as they took an interception to the house. The Red Raiders played solidly the rest of the first half and held a 27-8 lead at the break.
BC came out firing in the third quarter and scored a pair of TDs in the opening minutes of the second half, taking advantage of more Northwestern miscues. Heading into the fourth, the Red Raiders held a slim 33-28 lead. The final quarter was all Warriors as they put up 13 in the final period to finish off their upset 41-33.
Based off of statistics, Northwestern should have won the game as they doubled Bacone's first downs (22-to-11) and total yardage (376-178) but lost the turnover battle (7-to-2) and thus the game. The Warriors tallied 145 passing yards and just 33 rushing, taking advantage of their short field opportunities for their six scores.
BC's main quarterback for the game was 6' 6" freshman Colton Owen who threw for 65 yards on 9-of-30 passing; the team also had two others record pass completions on the night. Damian Johnson and Roderick Mackey combined for 53 yards rushing; Owen lost 29 yards on four sacks. Larry Stokes caught a team-high five passes for 14 yards and David Chapman brought in three for a team leading 83 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, James Foote and Keshaun Malone each pulled down a pair of interceptions for the Warriors and Foote took his to the house. Malone led the team in tackles with nine solo and five assisted; defensive back Alex Wilson was second on the team with 10 followed by Robert Roberson who had nine. The defense recorded zero sacks but had six tackles for a loss in their win.
On September 13th, Bacone heads to Arkansas for a matchup with Hendrix College.
