Game Notes
Live Video
Live Stats
Live Audio
McPherson, Kan. – The seventh game of the year for McPherson College football is scheduled for October 24th in Leavenworth, Kansas against the University of Saint Mary Spires; kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (CT)
The Bulldogs are still looking for their first win of the year. The young team has improved each week in practice but the results have yet to show on Saturdays.
This past week, MC held their first lead of the season as they scored first on Friends University, leading 3-0 after their first series. Unfortunately, that lead was short lived as the Falcons returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. McPherson also scored the game's final points, a safety in the final quarter, but Friends posted a few more in between, putting the final score at 45-5.
One of the bright spots for Mac was sophomore running back DeAvonte Doucet who rushed for 113 yards on a career-high 26 carries.
McPherson's defense did a nice job of holding the Falcon air attack in check most of the day as they allowed just 55 yards. The team only gave up 2-of-14 third down conversions.
Mac's next home game will come on Halloween, October 31st. The 'Dogs will host Tabor College for a 1:00 p.m. start
Scouting Saint Mary
After starting the season 0-2, Saint Mary opened up conference with a big win over KCAC Preseason Favorite Friends University 27-14. Since, they've gone 1-3 with a pair of blowout losses including a 45-7 defeat to Ottawa University this past weekend.
OU scored just once in the first quarter but then three times in the second, including a field goal with just a few seconds left in the half; the Braves led 23-7 at the break. In the second, it was all Ottawa as they rolled for the lopsided victory.
Saint Mary recorded 182 yards of offense with a mere 18 coming on the ground on just 16 tries. Torion Amos rushed for a team-high 21 yards on six carries. Drew Cortez threw the ball 46 times, completing 23 for 164 yards; he had one touchdown and three interceptions. Amos pulled in seven balls for 42 yards and was followed by Antonio Cannon who had five receptions for 49 yards and the team's lone touchdown.
Defensively, the Spires got ran over as they allowed 284 rush yards with 201 going to the KCAC Offensive Player of the Week; they also allowed close to 300 yards passing. The D did force three fumbles and recovered two; they had one pick in the game as well. Easton Ridley had a great night tackling for USM as he tallied 15 tackles with 10 being solo stops. Kenny Nez was second on the team with 14, nine solo tackles.
The Spires are a pass first, pass second, then maybe run third kind of team. They have racked up over 2000 yards on the season through the air, averaging over 300 per contest. The team is led by Cortez who has completed 57% of his passes for 1821 yards and 13 touchdowns. Cole Williams leads USM in receptions with 47 for 590 yards and four scores; he is first in the NAIA in receptions per game with 7.8. Cannon and Amos both have over 30 grabs; Cannon has gone for 403 yards and two TDs while Amos has 33 for 214. This Year, Amos has racked up 271 rushing yards on 67 carries. The other Saint Mary Player to have double-digit rushing attempts is utility player Marcus Mata who has 49 attempts for 139 yards and four touchdowns.
Ridley leads Saint Mary in tackles with his 58 total, 32 solo and 26 assisted; he has 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. Nez is next on the list at 56; he has 33 solo stops and a team-high four interceptions. The other 50+ tackler is Taylor Petty who has 54 on the year. Chance Nevarez is the team's leading sack man with his three on the year for 22.7 yards; the defensive lineman has 46 total tackles this season evenly split between assisted and solo.
USM's final home game of the year is next Saturday as they host Sterling College on the 31st.
