Football | 9/23/2023 8:52:00 AM
McPherson College (3-1) vs. Avila University (1-3)
Saturday, Sep. 23, 2023 | 1:00 PM | Paul Family Field at McPherson Stadium, McPherson, Kan.
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 The McPherson College Bulldogs got back into the win column in a big way last Saturday, knocking off Ottawa University 60-17 on the road.
A LOOK AT THE DOGS
The Bulldogs enter the contest with a 3-1 record.
The Bulldogs leading passer, Tristan Szabo, ranks in the top five in the NAIA in passing yards per game (294.0) and is tied for second in the country with 12 touchdown passes. Brysen Kerby paces a balanced Bulldogs running game with 188 yards and three touchdowns, while Szabo adds three touchdowns of his own and 163 yards on the ground. Jalil Brown has been effective with his touches, carrying the ball just 13 times for 124 yards. Hayden Fry has rushed for 103 yards and two scores.
In the passing game, Alex Hill has 14 catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns, while Traven Lewis-Johnson leads the team with 269 yards and a trio of scores. Tyson Bochert has 183 yards on 10 receptions. Burnts Lewis had a breakout game in the win over Ottawa, finishing with 103 yards on just three catches, including a 52-yard touchdown.
Nehemiah Figueroa still leads the NAIA with four interceptions so far this season, despite not having a pick in the win over Ottawa last week. Marquis Willoughby has 41 total tackles and a pair of forced fumbles.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Avila enters the contest with a 1-3 record with their lone win coming in week one, a 46-23 victory over Bethany College. The three losses are to Southwestern, Friends, and Bethel.
Sophomore quarterback, Eli Williams leads the way for the Eagles, completing 55 percent of his passes for 963 yards and seven touchdowns. He is also AU's leading rusher, running for 268 yards and six scores.
Kareem Chambers has caught a team-high 19 passes for 206 yards. Tight end AJ Carreon paces the Eagles with three touchdown receptions.
THE SERIES VS. AVILA
The Eagles are unbeaten in all four meeting between the two teams since Avila joined the KCAC In 2018. The closest score was a 35-25 game in 2019. The teams have played just once in McPherson, which came last season. There was no contest held in 2020.
LAST MEETING
The Bulldogs fell to Avila in the penultimate game of the 2022 season, 43-23. Avery Crawford put MC on top first with a 21-yard fumble recovery for six. Then, trailing 16-9, Jonathan White tied the ballgame with an 80-yard scamper. But from there, 27 unanswered points by the Eagles blew the game wide open.
BULLDOGS BY THE NUMBERS
Home: 1-1
Away: 2-0
When scoring:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-0
14-20 points: 0-0
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 3-1
When allowing:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-0
14-20 points: 2-0
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 1-1
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When scoring first: 2-0
When opponent scores first: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 3-1
When trailing at halftime: 0-0
When tied at halftime: 0-0
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HE'S GOT THAT DOG IN HIM
Marquis Willoughby forced two fumbles and had one interception to go along with 10 total tackles and six solo stops in the win over Ottawa.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Tristan Szabo went 11-for-20 in the blowout win over Ottawa, with 265 yards and five passing touchdowns.
A BULLDOG WIN WOULD...
... be their first-ever win over Avila
... improve them to 1-3 against the Eagles under Coach Fiscus
... improve them to 11-10 at home under Coach Fiscus
... move Coach Fiscus into a tie for 3rd most wins all-time
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs wrap up non-divisional play next Saturday (Sep. 30) with a road trip to Salina, Kan. to take on Kansas Wesleyan University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
KESSINGER DIVISION UPDATE
Two teams in the Kessinger division remain unbeaten. Evangel improved to 4-0 with a 59-42 thriller against Saint Mary, while Southwestern slipped past Tabor 20-10. Friends dropped its first contest, falling 35-28 to Kansas Wesleyan, while Bethel got back in the win column with a 42-26 win over Avila to improve to 3-1. Bethany, riding the high of getting their first win in their last 24 tries, dropped a nail biter to Sterling 27-20.
COACH FISCUS
Jeremiah Fiscus enters his fifth year as the head coach of the McPherson College Football team in 2023.Â
The 2022 season proved to be a promising one, as Fiscus led the Bulldogs to a 5-5 record, but four of those five setbacks came to the top teams in the KCAC by a combined five points.Â
In his four years at McPherson, Fiscus has coached 46 All-KCAC players, including five first-team selections and nine players landing on the All-KCAC second team. He was also instrumental in the success of the 2020 KCAC Special Teams Player of the Year, Melvin Reed, and 2022 KCAC Player of the Year, Jonathan White, both securing NAIA All-American honors.Â
Coach Fiscus is a former Bulldog who played for the college from 2006 – 2007 under coaches Dave Cunningham and Brian Ward.
Upon graduation from McPherson, he was hired as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was the running backs coach. After earning a master's degree in sports administration from Northwestern State in 2010, Coach Fiscus was hired as a graduate assistant at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. While at TCU, he earned another master's degree, this one in educational administration, and worked for head coach Gary Patterson as assistant offensive line coach and recruiting assistant.
In his two seasons at TCU, the Horned Frogs won two Mountain West Conference championships, in addition to winning the Rose Bowl and the Poinsettia Bowl. He coached two All-Conference offensive linemen and the MWC offensive player of the year, Andy Dalton.
After two years with the Horned Frogs, Coach Fiscus was hired by Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He spent six seasons with the Reddies in a multitude of positions. He worked as director of equipment operations, team travel coordinator, NFL liaison, OL/TE/FB coach, recruiting coordinator, and offensive coordinator. During his time there, the Reddies won three GAC championships, had three NCAA D2 playoff appearances, and twice were #1 in scoring offense in NCAA DII football.
Coach Fiscus is a 2003 graduate of Stafford High School in Kansas and was a multi-sport standout, lettering in track and field and football. After high school, he attended Dodge City Community College, playing for the Conquistadors from 2003-2005. After getting his associate degree at DCCC, Coach Fiscus transferred to McPherson College, where he played for two seasons and finished his education, graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in education.
Coach Fiscus is married to Jessie, and they have two daughters, Lennox (2016), and Laiken (2019), and a son Leonard (2021).
