Football | 10/18/2024 4:10:00 PM
McPherson College (5-1) vs Bethel College (4-2)
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 | 1:00 PM | Paul Family Field at McPherson Stadium | McPherson, Kan.
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The McPherson College Bulldogs open KCAC divisional play Saturday (Oct. 19) at McPherson Stadium against Bethel College.
A LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
MC enters the contest with a 5-1 record and are on a five-game winning streak, their longest since Coach Fiscus' first season at the helm in 2019.
The Bulldogs are averaging 34.3 points per game and 377.8 yards per game, which both rank fourth best in the Kessinger Division. Jalil Brown has been the Bulldogs leading rusher through the first half of the season, averaging 96.8 rushing yards per game. Brown also has a team-high nine rushing touchdowns which puts him tied for fourth in the NAIA. Tristan Szabo is second on the team with 365 rushing yards and a pair of scores, and has 940 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. Traven Lewis-Johnson is the Bulldogs top receiver with 316 yards on 15 catches and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Bulldogs hold their opponents to 18.5 points per game, which ranks them fourth in the Kessinger Division. MC allows just 282.7 yards per game, including just 104.2 rushing yards per contest.
SCOUTING THE THRESHERS
Bethel comes into the contest with a 4-2 record, but have lost their last two games. BC saw its four-game winning streak snapped in Salina to Kansas Wesleyan 21-6, before falling at home in the final non-divisional game 34-33 to Tabor.
The Threshers average 22.0 points per game and 313.2 yards per game. DJ Ciers leads the way with 863 yards passing and eight passing touchdowns. Ciers has also been effective in the Threshers rushing attack with 246 yards and a team-high six rushing touchdowns. Torriano Richardson leads the way with 596 rushing yards. Corey Catron has caught a team-high 20 passes for 169 yards, while Josiah Buller has a team-best 291 yards. Larry Cherry missed the Threshers first three games, but has caught three touchdown passes.
Defensively, the Threshers allows just 18.8 points per game, and just 269.2 yards per game. BC has also been stout against the run, holding its opponents to just 97.8 rushing yards per game. Tate Seabolt leads the Threshers with 56 tackles, while Colton McCarty has a team-high 4.5 sacks. Rodrick Edwards has three interceptions.
THE SERIES VS. BETHEL
The Threshers have dominated the series over the last decade, holding a 9-1 record during that span. The Bulldogs lone win came in 2017 in McPherson. Bethel has won each of the last six games between the teams.
LAST MEETING
The Threshers came away with a 33-24 victory in the 2023 meeting in North Newton, Kan. BC got off to a quick start, scoring on the first play from scrimmage on a 72-yard pass from DJ Ciers to Trevon Madison. Things went from bad to worse for the Bulldogs as Brendan Sanders picked off Tristan Szabo at the Bethel 36-yard line, halting a promising drive.
Szabo finished with 310 yards and three touchdowns, but threw a pair of interceptions. Brysen Kerby caught 12 passes for a team-high 91 yards and a score, while Kamryn Brown added 86 yards on seven catches.
On the other side, Ciers finished with 158 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns. Ciers was also the Threshers leading rusher, carrying it 26 times for 166 yards and a score. Madison caught six passes for 127 yards and a both of Ciers passing touchdowns.
QUOTING FISCUS
"We're excited to get back to competition after the bye week. Bethel is a highly competitive and respected program and we will have to play very physical and detailed for a victory."
BULLDOGS BY THE NUMBERS
Home: 3-0
Away: 2-1
When scoring:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-1
14-20 points: 0-0
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 5-0
When allowing:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 2-0
14-20 points: 2-1
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 1-0
When scoring first: 4-0
When opponent scores first: 1-1
When leading at halftime: 5-0
When trailing at halftime: 0-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
DEEP THREAT
Traven Lewis-Johnson has been great for the Bulldogs through the first four games, catching 13 passes for 303 yards. Lewis-Johnson also has three touchdowns, all over 50 yards. In his career, Lewis-Johnson has eight touchdown receptions, all over 20+ yards, and each of his last four touchdown catches are from at least 55-yards out. His career long is 77-yards. He is closing in on 1,000 yards for his career, needing just 123 yards.
KESSINGER DIVISION UPDATE
Three Kessinger Division teams remain undefeated entering the first week of divisional competition with Friends and Southwestern each coming into the week at 6-0 and Evangel 5-0. Each of the three unbeaten teams are ranked in the NAIA National Ratings (Evangel is 20th, Southwestern is 21st, and Friends is 23rd). The Bulldogs are the lone one loss team, while Bethel slates at 4-2 and Bethany is 3-3. Southwestern leads the way, averaging 46.3 ppg, while Friends comes in second with 42.8 ppg.
During non-divisional play, the six Kessinger Division squads hold a combined 29-6 record against the Bissell Division. In the two seasons in this current format, Kessinger teams are 54-17 against the other side. Divisions will be reselected next season based on the combined records over the 2022-2023 seasons. The Kessinger Division outscored the Bissell Division 1,190-577 in 2024.
ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Bethany College at Evangel University
Avila University at Kansas Wesleyan University
Friends University at Southwestern College
University of Saint Mary at Ottawa University
Sterling College at Tabor College
OVER THE AIRWAVES
Never miss a moment of the action this season thanks to Ad Astra Radio. Every Bulldog football game will be broadcast on 98.9 FM KMCP. Listen live to play-by-play voice Lane Gillespie as he calls all the action when the Bulldogs are at home or on the road.
A BULLDOG WIN WOULD...
... snap a six-game losing streak to Bethel dating back to 2018
... make them 4-0 at McPherson Stadium this season
... be their first six-game winning streak since 2010
... improve them to 1-5 against the Threshers under Coach Fiscus
... improve them to 16-11 at McPherson Stadium under Coach Fiscus
... be the 30th head coaching win for Coach Fiscus
... be better than a Bulldog loss
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs hit the road next Saturday, traveling to Lindsborg, Kan. to take on Bethany College. MC won last year's matchup 28-0 in McPherson.
COACH FISCUS
Jeremiah Fiscus enters his sixth year as the head coach of the McPherson College Football team in 2024.
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.
In his five years at McPherson, Fiscus has coached 57 All-KCAC players, including six first-team selections and 14 players landing on the All-KCAC second team. He has also coached three NAIA All-Americans, including 2020 KCAC Special Teams Player of the Year, Melvin Reed, and 2022 KCAC Player of the Year, Jonathan White.
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 D2 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).
