Game Notes
Live Video
Live Stats
Live Audio
McPherson, Kan. – Homecoming for McPherson College is set for this weekend and Bulldog football will host to Ottawa University for a 2:00 p.m. (CT) game at McPherson Stadium. The 'Dogs will look to get their first win of the year with a boisterous crowd full of alumni.
Mac currently holds a 0-4 record as each member of the young team is working to find their role. They are making strides each week and this past week against Kansas Wesleyan, it was Braden Bush that highlighted the night for the 'Dogs. The sophomore safety intercepted multi-time KCAC Player of the Week three times with the final one going 75 yards to the house for MC's only points in the 48-7 loss. Bush now leads the NAIA in total interceptions (5) and picks per game (1.3); he also had a team-high nine tackles with seven being solo stops.
The Bulldog offense held possession for over 38 minutes in the game. At times they were able to move the ball down the field and made it into scoring position on several occasions. Unfortunately, three interceptions and a missed field goal kept the offense off the scoreboard.
54 of the team's 233 total yards of offense came on the ground for McPherson; they were led by Ryan Lakso who had 37 on 14 attempts. DeAvonte Doucet tallied 24 on 12 carries. Linnin threw for 140 yards, going 13-of-24 with a long of 32 yards. Michael Ramos pulled in four balls for 46 yards and also completed a pass for 28 yards. Ste'fon Walker, Justin Fagan, and Tim Jones each had a pair of receptions.
The Coyote offense was tough to stop as they put up 585 yards on 67 plays. Alwin Crawford had nine tackles, seven solo. Michael Rabara tallied seven tackles as did Dalton Whitfield; Whitfield had six solo stops to Rabara's five.
Mac will hit the road next week as they travel to Friends University on the 17th for a 1:30 p.m. contest with the Falcons.
Scouting Ottawa
Preseason favorite of the KCAC, Ottawa is currently 2-2 on the season, 1-1 in the conference. They lost their first two games of the year, 23-22 to Dakota Wesleyan in the KCAC-GPAC challenge and then 43-17 to No. 15 Tabor College in their conference opener. Since then, the team has posted back-to-back 41-point outings, taking down Bethany 41-17 and Bethel this past week 41-25.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Braves broke the silence with two touchdowns in the second. Bethel added a touchdown of their own as the halftime horn sounded. The second half was full of scoring with OU hitting a 54-yard pass for the first TD. The Threshers responded but another touchdown by Ottawa canceled that out; the Braves led 25-13 heading into the final 15 minutes. Bethel scored twice in the fourth quarter but were answered by Ottawa each time, giving the Braves the 41-25 victory.
OU poured on the offense against the Threshers as they racked up 500+ with 299 through the air and 228 on the ground. Ottawa ran 70 plays, averaging 7.5 yards a play. KCAC Player of the Week Tanner Staats rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Backup running back Michael Francis also had a nice game, tallying 46 yards on 12 rushes. Junior quarterback Dayton Walter passed for nearly 300 yards, completing 21-of-28 attempts; he had three scores and zero interceptions in the win. CJ Whitaker was the favorite target of Walter as he pulled in seven balls for 77 yards. Terrance Polk III nearly eclipsed the 100-yard mark with his five grabs for 94 and a pair of touchdowns.
Ottawa allowed 354 yards to the Threshers with 237 coming through the air; they forced and recovered one fumble in the game. On the defense for OU was Vinny Wurst who had 16 total tackles including two for a loss and a sack. Zach Lanning was second on the list with 12 tackles, half of which was for a sack. Anthony Curtis, Jr. was the final Brave to hit double-digit tackle numbers; he had nine assisted and one solo stop.
On the year, Staats has 324 total rushing yards on 62 carries; he's scored three touchdowns and has a long of 57. Francis is next on the team with his 247 yards on 44 tries with one score. And just inching over 100 yards on the year is Tim Morovick who has accrued 101; the utility player has also thrown the ball 30 times, completing 15 for 103 yards. Walter is the main QB for Ottawa; he has passed for 697 yards on 52-of-94 with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Polk III leads the receiving corps with his 21 receptions for 358 yards and three scores. Whitaker is a distant second with 13 for 112.
Chase Hanson tops the Ottawa D with his 32 tackles in four games. Dexter Hays has a team-high 24 solo tackles and 29 total on the year; he also has one interception. Wurst has 29 tackles as well with 20 coming as an assist; he is tied atop the team in sacks with one.
Ottawa will host the University of Saint Mary on October 17th for their next contest.
