Bulldogs' Season Comes to an End With Loss to Saint Mary

By Drew Brunecz
 
The McPherson Bulldog Football Team played their season finale today, losing to Saint Mary University 34-20. This brought their final record on the season to 3-7.
 
The first quarter was a defensive battle, with the Bulldogs leading 6-0 at the end of it. It was a very defensive back-and-forth, with neither team being able to punch it in until there was eight seconds left on the clock, when Ed Crouch (R-Jr. Miami Gardens, Fla.), threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brandt Wolters (Sr. Osborne, Kan.).
 
The second quarter is when the Spires started to pull away, as they lead 21-6 at halftime. On the first drive of the second quarter for the Bulldogs, they were driving down the field until they lost a fumble on Saint Marys' 36-yard line. It just seemed like everything that could go wrong for McPherson did, as they got a punt blocked and returned to their own seven yard line. The next possession they had, a pass by Crouch was intercepted. The Bulldogs had plenty of chances, but also plenty of bad luck unfortunately.
 
The fourth quarter is when the Bulldogs offense got going. They managed to make it interesting by scoring twice, but could not close the gap all the way. They scored on a 24-yard run by Bailey Sites (Fr. Spearville, Kan.), and a 40-yard pass from Jake Tiernan (Jr. Solomon, Kan.) to Cullen Grabast (So. Osborne, Kan.) to make it 34-20.
 
Crouch was the leading passer, gathering 89 yards and one touchdown on 11-22 passing, while also throwing one interception. Tiernan added 87 yards and a touchdown of his own on 4-9 passing, while also throwing one interception. Armond McCray (Sr. Wichita, Kan.) was the leading rusher, adding 61 total yards on 13 attempts. Sites totaled 27 yards, and scored a touchdown on the ground as well. Grabast was the leading receiver, with 87 yards and one touchdowns on only three catches.
 
Before the game, the Bulldogs honored 17 seniors, who suited up in the red and white for the final time.