SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College football team struck first, but it was host Dordt College that scored two second-half touchdowns to pull away for a 27-13 win Saturday at Open Space Park.
After being forced to punt on their first drive, the Bulldogs (0-2) received a bit of fortune as
RJ Garza (McAllen, Texas)'s punt was muffed by Dordt's Jason Miller and recovered by
Kavoderic McIntyre (Dallas, Texas) at the Dordt 28-yard line. McPherson did not waste the second chance as
Ed Crouch (Miami Gardens, Fla.) scored on a 32-yard scramble three plays later to take a 7-0 lead.
Neither team was able to mount a sustained drive on their next two series, but the Defenders (2-0) hit a handful of big plays on their third offensive series – including a 39-yard run by Reggie Washington – before Bryce Lidtka scored a 5-yard touchdown run. Miller hit Washington on the 2-point conversion to give Dordt an 8-7 lead after one quarter.
The Bulldogs took the ensuing kickoff and drove 62 yards on 13 plays but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by
Caleb Contreras (Dallas, Texas) after failing to convert with a first-and-goal at the Dordt 4-yard line.
Dordt regained the lead with a 24-yard field goal from Brett Gaines with 6:07 to play in the half and extended the lead to 14-10 as Gaines hit from 25 yards out as time expired in the first half.
McPherson forced a Dordt 3-and-out to start the second half and was able to turn its first possession into points. Starting with favorable field position at their own 47, Crouch hit
Eman McNeal (Aurora, Colo.) for a 32-yard pass to get down to the Dordt 21. A pair of
Tyrone Campbell (Oakland, Calif.) carries moved the Bulldogs down to the 2-yard line but the Dordt defense stiffened, forcing McPherson to settle for another Contreras chip-shot field goal, this one from 21 yards out.
Dordt turned the ball over on downs inside the McPherson red zone on its next drive, but McPherson was unable to capitalize and was forced to punt. The Defenders continued to apply pressure on offense, driving 85 yards on 10 plays on its next drive capped when Dordt quarterback Brock Lamle scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper. The key play of the drive was a 36-yard run by Lidtka on a fake punt that moved the ball from midfield inside the McPherson 20-yard line.
Ashton Serpas (Saucir, Miss.) blocked the ensuring PAT, but the Defenders still led 20-13 near the end of the third quarter.
Dordt tacked on another touchdown early in the fourth quarter after Levi Schoonhoven scored from one yard out to cap a 12-play, 87-yard drive.
The Defenders outgained the Bulldogs, 623-332, overall, including 404-112 on the ground. Lidtka rushed for a game-high 110 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries, while Washington added 83 yards on nine carries. Lamle was just 14-of-24 through the air for 199 yards, but rushed for 95 yards and a score. Miller was Lamle's favorite target, hauling in eight passes for 148 yards.
For McPherson, Ed Crouch finished 24-of-43 for 220 yards and one interception. He also had 16 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked three times. Tyrone Campbell had a team-high 56 yards on 13 carries.
McNeal caught six balls for 74 yards and
Brandt Wolters (Osborne, Kan.) added eight catches for 62 yards.
Defensively,
Travis Steenson (McPherson, Kan.) led McPherson with 14 tackles (nine solo).
Michael Rabara (Kona, Hawaii) (five solo) and
Braden Bush (Blanchard, Okla.) (six solo) added 10 stops apiece, while Ashton Serpas had eight stops (one for loss) and a blocked kick and
Devontae Emory (Garland, Texas) had eight tackles, four pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Gerrit Wybenga led Dordt with 12 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a sack. Joey Lovetere added nine stops, while Alex Vasquez had eight tackles, 1.5 for loss and a forced fumble, and Arie Hoekstra made eight tackles, 1.0 for loss and one interception.
"We're obviously disappointed with the outcome of the game," said head coach
Paul Mierkiewicz. "We are pleased, though, with the effort we received on both sides of the ball."
"[We] just need to get back home find ways to get better," added Mierkiewicz. "We're looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd for the first time this season. It'll be a big week coming up for the program as we'll be celebrating the legacy of Blake Reed and his impact on our program."
After two weeks on the road playing nonconference games, the Bulldogs will play their first game within the comfy confines of McPherson Stadium next Saturday as Southwestern College makes the trip to McPherson to open KCAC play. The game, which will kick off at 7 p.m., has been designated as the annual Blake Reed Memorial Game for the 2016 season.
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McPherson College is proud member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
