McPHERSON, Kan. – It's Homecoming week at McPherson College as the football team entertains Friends University in a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup Saturday. Kickoff at McPherson Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Coverage
For those unable to make it to McPherson, the game can be heard live locally on 96.7 KBBE-FM or at
midkansasradio.com with Sports Director Matt Cole and Steve Sell on the call. Live video and statistics can be found at
http://www.macbulldogs.com/gamecast.
The Series
The Falcons lead the all-time series 41-32-1 and won last year's game, 45-5, in Wichita. Friends has won four in a row with the last McPherson win coming in 2011 (31-17 in Wichita). The Bulldogs are looking for their first home win over the Falcons since September 12, 2009 - a 60-38 win.
Bulldog Banter
McPherson led 38-28 headed to the fourth quarter and 45-31 with 8:12 to play in last weekend's game at Ottawa, but the Braves outscored the Bulldogs, 24-7, down the stretch - winning the game, 55-52, on a field goal with seven seconds remaining. For the second straight game, the Bulldogs combined with their opponents for over 1,000 yards of total offense (1,117). Ottawa ran 100 plays compared to McPherson's 76 and racked up 660 yards of offense (487 on the ground).
Ed Crouch threw for 218 yards and a touchdowns and added 119 yards and another three touchdowns on the ground. Tyrone Campbell led the Bulldogs with 120 yards rushing and two scores. Tyler Giron had five catches for 81 yards, while Justin Fagan also had five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.
As a team, McPherson ranks 17th nationally in total rushing offense (1,206 yards) and 20th in rushing offense per game (201.0). Crouch currently ranks 10th in the NAIA in total offense (1,772 yards) and total offense yards per game (295.3), 12th in total rushing yards (596), 18th in rushing yards per game (99.3) and 32nd in total passing yards (1,176). Among KCAC players, he trails only Sterling's Cedrick Philllips in total offense per game and passing yards per game. Crouch also ranks fifth in the league in rushing yards per game. Campbell ranks seventh, averaging 89.0 yards per game.
Defensively, Travis Steenson continues to rank among the national leaders in tackles per game. With 83 tackles through six games, he is averaging a KCAC-best 13.8 stops per game to ranks second in the NAIA. He had 13 tackles against Ottawa, including nine solo stops.
The Bulldog defense picked off six passes against the Braves, including two by Kavoderic McIntyre. Michael Rabara, Dominic DeLuca, Isaac Murphy and Devontae Emory each had one. Emory currently ranks 16th nationally with 1.5 passes defended per game. Braden Bush added seven tackles (six solo) and returned a fumble 79 yards for a score in the third quarter against Ottawa.
Focusing on the Falcons
After opening the season with back-to-back losses, Friends has bounced back with wins in two of its last three games. The Falcons' record is also bolstered by a forfeit victory over Texas College.
Much as was the case between McPherson and Ottawa, Friends came out on the short end of a last-second game-winning field goal in a 45-42 loss to Kansas Wesleyan last Saturday in Wichita.
The Falcons gained a respectable 373 yards on offense, including 240 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Jesse Rogers did most of the heavy lifting for the Friends offense, rushing for 180 yards and two long touchdowns (41, 74).
Quarterback Brennan Whitaker added 56 yards and two more scores (1,9). He also went 9-of-17 through the air for 133 yards and a 26-yard touchdown to Glen Whisby.
The Falcons grabbed a 35-20 lead with 4:54 to play in the third quarter after Rogers broke out on his 74-yard scoring run. The Coyotes responded with three straight touchdowns to take a 42-35 lead before Whitaker tied the game with a 9-yard run.
Friends ranks 11th nationally and second in the KCAC in rushing offense per game at 244.8 yards per game and are tops in the league (and 11th nationally) against the run, allowing just 99.0 yards per game.
On offense, the Falcons have gone against their mascot, amassing 60% of their yards on the ground (1224 of 2024). One of the aspects of a run-heavy offense is that Friends has allowed just six sacks in five games.
Rogers and Whitaker form a potent 1-2 punch on the ground as Rogers ranks third in the NAIA in rushing yards per game (143.6), fifth in total rushing yards (718) and 16th in scoring (8.4 points per game) and all-purpose yards per game (149.4). Rogers also holds the KCAC rushing lead by nearly 30 yards per game ahead of Bethel's Jalen Sykes (114.8). Whitaker ranks eighth nationally in scoring per game (10.8 points per game).
Friends ranks fourth in the KCAC in total defense, allowing 368.8 yards per game. Most of that damage has come through the air, though, the Falcons rank last in the league at 269.8 yards per game. Josh Lewis leads the team with 27 tackles, while Tim Hamilton has added 21 stops, including 6.0 for loss. The Falcons are the only KCAC team without an interception on defense this year.
Up Next
Following Saturday's game against the Falcons, the Bulldogs will welcome the University of Saint Mary to McPherson Stadium for Service Appreciation Day on Saturday, October 22. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
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McPherson College is a charter member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
