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McPherson, Kan. – The Bulldogs are hoping to scare the KCAC-leading Tabor College Bluejays on Saturday afternoon as the two football teams square off at 1:00 p.m. (CT) on All Hallows' Eve. There will be a costume contest, so be sure to come dressed in your Halloween best.
McPherson will head into Saturday's contest following a 41-3 road loss to the University of Saint Mary. Mac is 0-7 on the year but have had some individual standout performances throughout the season. Against the Spires, freshman Jackson Goodmiller rushed for a team-high 80 yards on 16 carries in his first start at running back. On the defensive side of the ball, Michael Rabara had another high-level performance as he racked up 14 tackles with seven solo and seven assisted; the junior also forced one fumble. Linebacker Greg Elvin also played well with his 12 tackles including a team-high eight solo stops.
On the year, McPherson's offense is averaging 167 yards a game on an average of 55 plays; the team nets close to 80 yards rushing and 90 passing each time out.
DeAvonte Doucet leads the 'Dogs in rushing with his 242 total yards on 81 carries. Ryan Lakso is second on the list with 38 attempts for 133 yards and a pair of scores. Chris Linnin has started all but one of the team's games at quarterback; he is 51-of-132 for 570 yards. Michael Ramos is the top receiver for MC with his 18 receptions for 213 yards. Fellow senior Ste'fon Walker has 10 grabs for 159 yards.
Defensively, they allow 482 yards a night with the bulk coming on the ground. The D has 14 takeaways through their seven games with nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries. They have tabbed 29 tackles for a loss for a total of 85 yards.
Rabara leads the Bulldogs in tackles this season with 75; he has 2.5 tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Dalton Whitfield is second on the list with his 67 stops and tops the tackles for a loss list with 4.5. Braden Bush has had a breakout year with his 62 total tackles including a team best 38 solo stops; he also leads the way with his five interceptions. Elvin has also hit 60 tackles this season with 2.5 for a loss.
McPherson will have their final home game of the year next week as they host Sterling College. The November 7th contest is senior Day for the Bulldogs who have eight seniors on the roster.
Scouting Tabor
The Bluejays are having a good year. The team is currently ranked 11th in the NAIA National Poll and have been in the top-25 for most of the past several years. The 2015 unit is 7-1 on the year and undefeated, 6-0, against conference opponents. The lone loss this season came in the KCAC-GPAC Challenge when TC dropped a 9-7 contest to Northwestern (Iowa). Two weeks ago, the Bluejays put themselves in prime position to win the conference with a 14-7 win over Kansas Wesleyan University in the NAIA Game of the Week. This past weekend they took down Friends University 34-7 in Wichita.
Against the Falcons, it was all Tabor as the 'Jays tripled Friends' offensive output. TC led throughout with the lone FU points coming in the fourth quarter. Tabor tallied 364 yards of offense with most coming on the ground, 55 carries for 300 yards. The defense gave up 132 passing yards, 60 on one play, and held the Falcons to -19 yards rushing.
Joseph Donnell led the Bluejays' ground attack with his 122 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. D'Marco Smith took the ball 18 times for 82 yards and a score. Quarterback Simon McKee rushed for 41 yards on four carries; he also went 4-of-11 passing the ball for 64 yards. Charles Beale led the receiving corps with his two grabs for 43 yards.
On the other side of the ball, defensive linemen Dylan Delk and Derrick Lawrence each had four solo and four assisted tackles; the two tied for the team-high tackles for a loss with four apiece. Evan Sprayberry tabbed a team leading 2.5 sacks and had a total of five stops in the game.
This season Donnell has accumulated 855 yards on the ground on 114 carries; he has a team-high nine rushing touchdowns and a long of 50 yards. Smith is second on the team in both carries and yards with 78 and 308, respectively. McKee has thrown for 969 yards on 85-of-140 and also has 250 yards rushing this year; the senior has eight total touchdowns. Torry Gill tops the list of receivers for Tabor with his 19 receptions for 204 yards.
Defensively, Delk leads the way with his 54 total tackles including 18.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks. Lawrence is also above the 50 mark with his 52 stops; he has 4.5 sacks on the year. Sprayberry is a distant third with 42 tackles including 24 by himself; the defensive end has 15.5 tackles for a loss.
Tabor will finish the year with a two-game home stand against the BCs.
