Bulldogs Shut Out Swedes 62-0

Photo by Junior Silva

McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College football team ran roughshod over intra-county rival Bethany College on Saturday. The defense pitched a shutout while the offense hung 62 on their rivals from up north.

You have to go back to the 2010 season, the last time the Bulldog offense scored over 60 points and to 2013 the last time the defense held an opponent scoreless. On Saturday, the Bulldogs seemingly could do no wrong on either side of the ball. Offensively the Bulldogs tallied 29 first downs on their way 580 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs threw the ball all over the field, racking up 347 yards. On the ground they pounded out 233 yards.

The Bulldogs' came out swinging, and hung 21 on the scoreboard in the first six minutes of the quarter. At one point they had run a total of six offensive plays, and three of them had gone for touchdowns. Those three scores were all on the ground, a 12 yard run by Tristan Szabo, a 3 yarder by Braylon Moody, and a 26 yard scamper from wide receiver Melvin Reed.

They scored twice more in the second quarter, this time a 15 yard pass from Szabo to Hayden Fry, and a 53 yard strike to Reid up the seam. They headed into the break leading 35-0. Coming out after halftime, the Bulldogs picked up where they left off in the first two quarters. They put up 13 more points in the quarter on a 61 yard punt return for a touchdown by J'Kobi Reddick, and an eight yard touchdown pass from Szabo to Camron Mashaw Jr.

Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, Coach Fiscus began getting his backups some meaningful reps. He brought in Jeremiah Mosley at quarterback, a freshman quarterback from Cypress, Texas. In his debut, Mosley completed 11 of 15 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Those two TDs went to Aidan Frieson on a fade into the back of the end zone, and a 21 yard swing pass to Jesse Davis.

In three quarters of play, Szabo went 16 for 28 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed three times for 17 yards and scored once. Ten other Bulldogs had at least one carry against the Swedes accumulating 233 yards. The top rusher was Moody who ran had nine carries for 79 yards and a touchdown.

A whopping 14 different receivers caught a pass from Szabo or Mosley, and four different receivers caught a touchdown pass from one of the two QBs. Reid and Mayshaw were the top targets, each with four receptions and a touchdown. Reid's four touches resulted in 74 yards an average of 18.5 yards per catch.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs held the Swedes just 156 yards of total offense, 80 through the air, and 76 on the ground. As a group, they recorded six sacks and had eight tackles for a loss. Drew Labertew paced the Bulldog defense with six tackles, one for a loss and was credited with half a sack. Cory Chairs also had a big day, with five tackles including two sacks.

Coach Fiscus commented on the win saying, "This was a great team win, and lots of guys took meaningful reps. It was great to see the team respond and bounce back. I am proud of the players and coaches."
 
The win puts the Bulldogs back over .500 at 4-3 they will try and start a win streak, when they go on the road next Saturday for an afternoon matchup with the University of St. Mary Spires in Leavenworth, Kan. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm.