Football Rolls Over Bethel, 48-14

McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College football team raced out to a 24-0 lead after one quarter and did not look back en route to a 48-14 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) victory over Bethel College Saturday night at McPherson Stadium.

After forcing Bethel (0-4, 0-3 KCAC) into a three-and-out on their opening series, McPherson's Rinaldo Gagiano (Sydney, Australia, Knox HS) broke through the line to block the Brett Mathis punt. Gagiano then recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Threshers followed with a fumble on their next offensive play, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the the Bethel 16-yard line. A holding penalty stalled McPherson's drive, but Jack Reid (Frisco, Texas, Frisco HS) nailed a 32-yard field goal to extend the Bulldog lead to 10-0 less than four minutes in to the game.

McPherson (2-2, 1-2 KCAC) followed two more Bethel three-and-outs with touchdowns. Quarterback Ed Crouch (Miami Gardens, Fla., Coffeyville CC) found Jackson Goodmiller (St. George, Kan., Rock Creek HS) for a 19-yard touchdown pass and Armond McCray (Wichita, Kan., Coffeyville CC) scored on a two-yard run.

Tanner Williams (Fairhope, Ala., Coffeyville CC) intercepted a Zach Esau pass on the first play of the second quarter, but the Bulldogs initially could not make anything from it. Forced to punt, RJ Garza (McAllen, Texas, Roma HS)'s punt was touched by a Bethel player and pounced on by Ben Padilla (Wichita, Kan., Wichita South HS) at the Bethel 31.

Aided by a facemask penalty, McPherson needed only four plays to find the end zone as Crouch scored on a six-yard scamper to make it 31-0.

Bethel finished off the half with a pair of scoring drives - a seven-yard quarterback keeper by Esau and a two-yard run by Tyshawn Simon.

In the third quarter, Reid tacked on a 21-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 49-yard drive. Later in the quarter, Alwin Crawford (Roanoke, Texas, Byron Nelson HS) picked off Esau. After an illegal block in the back on McPherson set the Bulldogs up at the Bethel 32-yard line, Crouch scored on a 31-yard scramble three plays later.

Crouch found Eman McNeal (Aurora, Colo., Hinkley HS) for a 16-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring.

The Bulldogs out-gained the Threshers, 338-150, including a 262-65 advantage on the ground.

Corey Davis (Houston, Texas, Dekaney HS) ran for 133 yards on 28 carries to lead McPherson. Crouch added 103 yards and two scores on the ground. He had an off night through the air, though, going 7-of-21 for just 76 yards but did have the two touchdown passes.

Goodmiller caught three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown, while McNeal had a pair of catches for 27 yards and a score.

Simon led Bethel with 44 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

Esau went 9-for-19 passing for 83 yards and a pair of interceptions. Lawrence Hill and Gary Jolivet each had three catches. 

Defensively, Patrick Calip (Tulsa, Okla., Jenks HS) and Thomas Lanktree (Magnsa, Utah, Cypress HS) each had 10 tackles to lead the Bulldogs. Lanktree added 0.5 sacks, 1.0 tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble, while Charles Tisby (Houston, Texas, Dobie HS) chipped in with nine tackles, 0.5 sacks, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble.

Jariah Booker had 12 stops for Bethel. Reggie Young added 11 tackles.

"I thought we played really well defensively and did some really nice things on special teams," said head coach Paul Mierkiewicz. "All-in-all, it was a good effort from start to finish. Offensively, we were having a tough time finding our identity in the second quarter, but we came out in the third quarter and, I thought, played a lot better. Our defense really set the tone and that allowed us to focus on the run game, which makes Ed [Crouch] a more effective quarterback. Collectively, we played very well up front. It's probably the best game that group has played all year."

"It was a big-time recovery for [our defense]," added Mierkiewicz. "We rode the momentum early on and we kept going from there. We got a glimpse of where we can be when we are hitting on all cylinders."

The Bulldogs are on the road next Saturday, traveling to Salina to face rival Kansas Wesleyan University. Kickoff from the Graves Family Sports Complex is slated for 6 p.m.