McPHERSON, Kan. – The McPherson College football team faces a stiff test Saturday as 14th-ranked Kansas Wesleyan University makes the short trip from Salina for a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) matchup at McPherson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday is also Kids' Appreciation Day with children 12 and under receiving free admission to all home events that day.
The Series
The Coyotes lead the all-time series 50-38-4 and won last year's matchup, 48-7, in Salina. The Bulldogs hold a slim 22-21-1 advantage in games played in McPherson.
Bulldog Banter
McPherson (1-3, 1-1 KCAC) is working with one less day of preparation this week after last weekend's game at Bethel was pushed to Sunday due to inclement weather Saturday night. The Threshers emerged with a 10-7 win after holding the Bulldogs to just 257 yards of total offense.
Quarterback Ed Crouch accounted for nearly two-thirds of that total after throwing for 105 yards and rushing for 62 more. Tyrone Campbell added 90 yards out the backfield and caught a 2-yard scoring strike from Crouch for McPherson's only touchdown of the game. Crouch finished 14-of-26 with a pair of interceptions and the touchdown. Justin Fagan had five catches for 52 yards, while Brandt Wolters added four grabs for 33 yards.
McPherson ranks 25th in the NAIA in scoring defense (21.3 points per game) and 27th in pass defense (176.5 yards per game), but will need to improve on a rush defense that is allowing 229.3 yards per outing.
Crouch currently ranks 21st in the NAIA in total offense (265.0 yards per game), 22nd in total offense (1,060 yards) and 41st in both rushing yards per game (79.3) and total passing yards (743). In the KCAC, he continues to trail only Sterling's Cedrick Phillips - already a two-time KCAC Offensive Player of the Week and the reigning National Offensive Player of the Week - in total offense per game. Crouch also ranks third in passing yards per game (185.8) and fifth in rushing yards per game. Campbell ranks sixth, averaging just one yard less (78.3) per game.
Defensively, Travis Steenson had a season-high 17 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks while the Bulldogs' defense held the Threshers to 273 yards. Steenson ranks third in the NAIA (and continues to lead the KCAC) with 13.8 tackles per game. Devontae Emory ranks fifth in passes defended with seven break-ups and an interception.
Charting the Coyotes
After a 43-12 loss at Sterling to open KCAC play on September 17, 14th-ranked Kansas Wesleyan (3-1, 1-1 KCAC) bounced back by throttling Southwestern, 63-13, on Homecoming in Salina. The Coyotes racked up nearly 600 yards of total offense - including 403 on the ground - and feasted on six Moundbuilder turnovers.
LonDarius Thomas led KWU with 105 yards on the ground and had a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, while quarterback Wesley Geisler added 79 yards on 13 carries and Demarco Prewitt had 70 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
The Coyotes rank fifth in the NAIA in rushing yards per game (282.0) and ninth in total rushing offense (1128) but don't have a rusher averaging more than 72 yards per game. Junior quarterback/wide receiver Kelly Cordova - who played in eight games for McPherson in 2014 - leads KWU in that category despite not playing against Southwestern. Prewitt is not far behind at 70.8 yards per game.
Geisler added 192 yards and two touchdowns through the air on 14-of-23 passing. Both touchdown passes went to Mitch Kufahl, who finished with three grabs for 51 yards. Jacob Tatge had a team-best five catches for 51 yards.
Kansas Wesleyan ran 91 plays against Southwestern, gaining an average of 6.54 yards per play and racked up 33 first downs - 23 on the ground.
Despite not appearing in the season opener against Briar Cliff and not throwing a pass against Waldorf, Geisler has emerged as KWU's top quarterback. He currently ranks 19th in the NAIA in pass efficiency (145.9). Cordova's versatility, however, has allowed him to remain on the two-deep in a reserve wide receiver role.
Defensively, Garrett Updegraff leads the Coyotes with 30 tackles (15 solo) and 6.0 tackles for loss from his inside linebacker position. Free safety Michael Guerrero has 18 solo stops and two of KWU's four interceptions, while defensive linemen Brad Coombs, Christian McQueen and Kretien Webb have combined for 58 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
Kansas Wesleyan features the top offense in the KCAC, averaging 476.3 yards per game, and ranks second in scoring offense at 32.5 points per game. The Coyotes' strength has been on the ground, where they lead the KCAC at 282.0 yards per outing. Not to be out done, the KWU defense is third in the league, allowing 355.8 yards per game overall and 149.3 yards on the ground. With 11.5 sacks through four games, the Coyotes rank second behind Saint Mary's 15. McPherson picked up its first three sacks of the season on Sunday against Bethel.
Next on the Schedule
Following Saturday night's game against the Coyotes, it's matinees the rest of the way for the Bulldogs, beginning with a 1 p.m. matchup with Ottawa University on October 8 in Ottawa. Kansas Wesleyan is at Friends for a 3 p.m. kickoff that day.
