McPHERSON, Kan. – McPherson College celebrates Service Appreciation Day this Saturday as the football team hosts the University of Saint Mary in a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff at McPherson Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
This event is highlighted by a bounce house for kids, a free-will donation tailgate, a K9 demonstration at halftime of the football game and recognition of all service people in attendance.
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
McPherson leads the all-time series 9-7 with the last win coming in 2014 in McPherson (24-9). Saint Mary has won four of the last five, but the Bulldogs are 7-1 all-time against the Spires in McPherson Stadium.
Bulldog Banter
McPherson scored 19 fourth-quarter points and recovered a late onside kick but could not complete the comeback in a 21-19 loss to Friends University Saturday at McPherson Stadium in last Saturday's Homecoming game. The Falcons, with their run-first offense, ran 83 plays to the Bulldogs' 54 and held a 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession (40:53-19:07). Despite that, Friends only outgained McPherson, 334-307.
Ed Crouch threw for 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns but was limited to just 34 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Tyrone Campbell picked up the slack on the ground, carrying the ball 13 times for 123 yards. It was his third straight 100-yard game. Campbell also hauled in a game-high three passes for 75 yards and was the recipient of a 17-yard touchdown pass from Crouch to get the Bulldogs on the board.
As a team, McPherson ranks 20th nationally in total rushing offense (1,366 yards) and 22nd in rushing offense per game (195.1). Crouch currently ranks 10th in the NAIA in total offense (1,953 yards), 14th in total offense yards per game (279.0), 19th in total rushing yards (630), 24th in rushing yards per game (90.0) and 32nd in total passing yards (1,323). Among KCAC players, he trails only Sterling's Cedrick Philllips in total offense per game but has slipped to third behind Phillips and Kansas Wesleyan's Wesley Geisler in passing yards per game. Campbell and Crouch swapped positions on the league's rushing list this week. Campbell, at 93.9 yards per game now ranks fifth, while Crouch is seventh. Nationally, Campbell ranks 15th in total rushing yards (657) and 21st in rushing yard per game.
Travis Steenson was named KCAC Defensive Player of the Week after posting 24 tackles (seven solo) and a tackle for loss against the Falcons. With 107 tackles through seven game, he is averaging a KCAC-best 15.3 stops per game to rank second nationally.
Braden Bush added 16 tackles and nearly had another fumble return for a touchdown but the runner was determined to be down by contact prior to fumbling. Dalton Whitfield had 15 tackles and a tackle for loss. Chandler Tisby ranks 16th nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.3), while Devontae Emory is 16th in passes defended per game (1.5).
Spire Watching
With a 5-2 mark through seven games, Saint Mary is in the midst of its best season since going 6-5 in 2012. The Spires split their first four games with losses coming against Concordia (Neb.) and then-13th-ranked Tabor.
The last three weeks have been nail-biters for the Spires, though, as they have posted one-point victories over both Bethany and Ottawa and a 17-10 win against Bethel.
Last week, Saint Mary survived Ottawa, 14-13, in Leavenworth despite being outgained 301-247 in total offense and losing three of four fumbles.
Drew Cortez hit Isai Fernandez for a 29-yard touchdown in the first quarter, while Zach Hilliard scored on a 1-yard carry for the Spires. The Saint Mary defense limited Ottawa to a pair of field goals and a 10-yard touchdown pass.
The Spires have had one of the stingiest defenses in the KCAC so far this season, allowing a league-low 19.7 points per game. They also have a KCAC-best 27.5 sacks and rank second in both total defense (320.9 yards per game) and pass defense (161.6 ypg) and third in rush defense (159.3 ypg). Saint Mary's sack total ranks third in the NAIA, while its pass defense ranks eighth and total defense 13th.
Opponents are also converting at just a 30.4 percent (35-of-115) clip on third down, second among KCAC schools to Ottawa's 27.7 percent (31-of-112). McPherson's opponents have converted nearly half of their third-down chances (49.6 percent; 57-of-115), worst in the league.
USM punter Aiden Pirrin has been a key factor on special teams. He ranks fifth in the NAIA, averaging 41.9 yards per punt.
Individually, KyRandall Smith is on the of the top tacklers in the nation. He averages 11.9 stops per game - eighth in the NAIA and second among KCAC players to McPherson's Travis Steenson. Wyatt Whitham has been a force up front, compiling 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. He ranks eighth nationally in both categories.
On offense, the Spires have been fairly balanced on offense with 1054 yards on the ground and 1086 through the air. Their touchdowns have also been split evenly between air and ground at 10 apiece.
Drew Cortez leads the Saint Mary offense, throwing for 1054 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes (81-of-135) and throwing just two interceptions. Easton Ridley is the team's leading rusher with 642 yards and seven touchdowns on 141 carries. He also has a team-high-tying 13 catches for 135 yards and another score.
Taylor Gilbert (207 yards) and Zach Hilliard (159 yards) complement Ridley in the backfield, while five different receivers - Ridley, Gilbert (11 catches, 66 yards), Bryan Barnhart (13-181), Isai Fernandez (12-205-4TDs) and Kyle Dougherty (11-109-1TD) - have caught more than 10 passes this season.
Up Next
Following Saturday's game against the Spires, the Bulldogs visit Tabor College (Oct. 29) and Sterling College (Nov. 5) before welcoming Bethany College to McPherson Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday, November 12. Kickoff for the games at Tabor and Sterling is 1:30 p.m., while the kickoff for the finale against Bethany is scheduled for noon.
Make sure to follow Bulldog Nation on
Facebook (MCathletics) and
Twitter (@MAC_Bulldogs)
McPherson College is a charter member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
