McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) – The McPherson College football team makes the short trip up Interstate 135 to Salina Saturday evening to face Kansas Wesleyan University in a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) contest. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Bissell Field at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
Game Broadcasts
After a number of years riding the terrestrial airwaves, all McPherson College athletics broadcasts have moved online for the 2017-18 academic year. Broadcasts can now be found on the Bulldogs' Game Central portal powered by Stretch Internet at http://www.macbulldogs.com/gamecast. Matt Cole, sports editor at the McPherson Sentinel, returns as the play-by-play voice for Bulldog athletics to broadcast a full slate of 10 football games, virtually all McPherson home basketball games and select road basketball contests. Pregame for Saturday's game will start at approximately 5:45 p.m.
The Series
Kansas Wesleyan holds a 51-38-4 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to McPherson's inaugural 1920 football season. The Bulldogs have won five of the last eight, but the Coyotes will be looking for a third straight victory. McPherson is 4-6 in the last 10 meetings in Salina.
Last Meeting
McPherson played No. 14 Kansas Wesleyan close for a little over three quarters, but the Coyotes scored 21 straight fourth-quarter points to win 49-25 at McPherson Stadium. Ed Crouch threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 160 yards and another score to lead the Bulldogs. Tyrone Campbell added 101 yards on 23 carries and Justin Fagan hauled in four passes for 105 yards and two TDs.
Last Week
Aided by a Rinaldo Gagiano blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown, McPherson raced out to a 24-0 lead after one quarter en route to a 48-14 victory over Bethel. Corey Davis (133 yards) and Ed Crouch (103) each eclipsed the century mark on the ground as the Bulldogs rushed for 262 yards. The McPherson defense – led by 10 tackles each from Patrick Calip and Thomas Lanktree – held Bethel to just 149 yards of total offense.
Looking at the Bulldogs
McPherson has put forth a relatively balanced offensive effort through four games this season, throwing for 905 yards and rushing for 773.
Davis leads the Bulldogs in rushing, averaging 79.0 yards per game. Crouch averaged 75.5 yards per game and Armond McCray adds 23.0 yards per game on the round. As a team, McPherson ranks fourth in the KCAC at 193.3 yards per game. Through the air, Crouch is 58-of-113 for 893 yards, nine touchdowns and an interception, averaging 223.3 yards per game. Jackson Goodmiller leads the team in receptions with 15, averaging 40.8 yards per game with three scores. Eman McNeal has hauled in 12 passes, including three touchdowns, while Desmond Anderson has caught 10 passes for two touchdowns and a team-best 59.3 yards per game. There should be yardage to be had against the KWU defense as the Coyotes rank in the middle of the pack in the NAIA in all three defensive categories, allowing 394.4 yards per game overall. The issue may come in getting the ball into the end zone. Kansas Wesleyan boasts a top-15 scoring defense, allowing 21.8 points per game.
Defensively, Thomas Lanktree has 44 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He also has one forced fumble and an interception. Isaiah Hill leads the team with 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Applying pressure will be key against a Coyote offensive front that has allowed just six sacks in five games.
McPherson has the KCAC's top-ranked rushing defense and total defense and ranks third in scoring offense, total offense, pass offense and fourth in rushing offense. Crouch ranks third in the KCAC in total offense at 298.8 yards per game, fourth in passing and ninth in rushing, while Davis ranks seventh.
McPherson remains one of the most penalized teams in the NAIA, leading the nation in penalty yards per game. The Bulldogs also rank sixth in rushing defense, 14th in total defense and 20th in scoring offense.
Individually, Jack Reid is one of the top kickers in the NAIA this year, hitting seven of eight field goals and 16 of 18 PATs. He ranks second nationally in scoring for kickers alone – 11th among all players – and third in field goals. Lanktree is 10th in the NAIA in tackles at 11.0 per game and Crouch ranks 15th in total offense per game.
Chatting About the Coyotes
Kansas Wesleyan is 3-2 overall and is coming off a 34-29 win over Southwestern last week in Winfield. Kelly Cordova had 344 yards of total offense in the game and had a part in four of the five touchdowns scored by the Coyotes. Garrett Updegraft had a huge game defensively with 19 tackles in the game. KWU made a huge defensive stand, holding Southwestern at the KWU 9-yard line on four consecutive plays to seal the victory with 1:08 left in the contest.
Jerrod Ferguson leads the Coyotes in rushing, a balanced ground attack, averaging 56.2 yards per game on the season. Cordova averages 50.4 yards rushing per game and Nate Ocran adds 40.0 yards per game on the ground. As a team the Coyotes average 175.6 yards per game rushing.
Cordova is 87-of-164 passing for 1,247 yards on the season and 12 touchdowns against three interceptions, averaging 249.4 yards per game. The Coyotes average 269.8 yards per game passing on the season. Trenton Poe-Evans leads the Coyote receivers with 20 catches, for 304 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 60.8 yards per game. KaJuan Ocasio is averaging 92.8 yards per game with four touchdowns.
Defensively, Wesleyan is led by Updegraft with 57 tackles and including 4.5 tackles for loss on the season. He also has one fumble recovery and a sack. Christian McQueen and Kretien Webb are the sack leaders for the Coyotes with 4.5 each. McQueen and Updegraft rank among the NAIA's national leaders in tackles. McQueen ranks third at 10.0 total tackles for loss and sixth with 2.0 tackles for loss per game, while Updegraft is sixth in total tackles at 11.4 per game.
Tyler Welch ranks 12th in kickoff return yardage at 28.8 yards per attempt, which will test an – at times – beleaguered McPherson's kick coverage crew.
Next Week
The Bulldogs host Ottawa University next Saturday in the annual Homecoming contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at McPherson Stadium.
