Ottawa, KS – The McPherson College football team went on the road Saturday to take on the Ottawa University Braves. The Bulldogs lost last week to the Bethel College Threshers in a shootout, 56-42 where both teams combined for over 1100 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs were hoping to bounce back against a hot Braves team that had opened the season at 5-1.
Things started out great for the Bulldogs. On the Braves' opening drive, the Bulldogs picked off the OU quarterback on the third play of the game. Unfortunately the offense was unable to capitalize on the turnover, going three and out and punting the ball back to the Braves. The Braves didn't make a mistake on the next drive. They went 54 yards on 9 plays resulting in a TD pass by quarterback Connor Kaegi.
After another punt by the Bulldogs on their next drive, the Braves went 76 yards on 12 plays, culminating in another touchdown pass by Kaegi. The first quarter ended with the Braves on top 14-0. In the second quarter, the Braves added two more touchdowns, both on short runs by Kaegi, before the Bulldogs finally got on the board on a 28 yard field goal by
Gabe Reed (Fr. Coweta, Okla.). Trailing 28-3, the Bulldogs added a touchdown, a 26 yard run by
Ed Crouch (R-Jr. Miami Garden, Fla.) with 26 seconds remaining in the half.
After the halftime intermission, the Bulldogs came out and went 75 yards on 5 plays, ending with a 22 yard touchdown pass from Crouch to
Brandt Wolters (Sr. Osborne, Kan.). With that touchdown, the Bulldogs cut the Braves' lead to 28-17. The momentum was short lived for the Bulldogs. On the next Braves' possession, they marched down the field, going 55 yards in 7 plays. Kaegi finished the drive with his 3
rd rushing touchdown of the day, this one from 3 yards out.
The next three drives, two for the Bulldogs and 1 for the Braves, resulted in punts. The Mac defense came up big on the Braves' 3
rd drive of the quarter, picking off Kaegi for the second time in the game. With 1:56 left in the quarter, the Bulldogs had an opportunity to cut into the lead, but the offense stalled, and they were forced to punt the ball away, after a three and out, to end the quarter.
The Braves opened the 4
th quarter with back to back touchdowns, to extend their lead to 49-17. The Bulldogs tried to keep pace, scoring another touchdown on a run by Crouch, this one for 26 yards, trimming the Braves' lead to 49-24. Unfortunately the Braves added a field goal late in the quarter, and the Bulldogs were unable to get any closer. Time ran out with the home team leading 52-24.
The Bulldogs finished with 361 yards of total offense. They rushed for 114 yards on 31 carries, led by Crouch, who had 77 yards on 6 attempts. He also led the way through the air with 247 yards, going 20 for 36. Crouch accounted for all three Bulldog touchdown, 2 of them rushing, and the other passing.
Jackson Goodmiller (Sr. Saint George, Kan.) was the Bulldogs' leading receiver, catching 8 targets for 89 yards.
Defensively, the Bulldogs gave up 554 yards to the Braves, 273 on the ground, and 281 through the air. They did however win the turnover battle, coming away with 2 interceptions and forcing one fumble.
Joey Hale (Sr. Hutchinson, Kan.) led the Mac defense with 9 tackles, one of them for a loss.
With the loss, the Bulldogs are now 3-3 overall, and in the KCAC. They will be back home next week for homecoming, but they will face an uphill battle, as they host the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes, ranked 8
th in the latest NAIA top 25 poll. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm at McPherson Stadium.
