Football | 11/1/2024 3:48:00 PM
McPherson College (7-1) vs #16 Evangel University (7-0)
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 | 1:00 PM | Eagle Stadium | Nixa, Mo.
WATCH | LISTEN | TICKETS | STATS
The McPherson College Bulldogs face their toughest test of the season this weekend, traveling to Springfield, Mo., to take on No. 16-ranked Evangel. This week kicks off a tough three-game stretch with all three squads ranked or receiving votes in the latest GoRout NAIA Top 25.
A LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
MC enters the contest with a 7-1 record and are 2-0 in divisional play. The Bulldogs are riding a seven-game winning streak, their longest since the 2010 season when they finished the regular season unbeaten.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are averaging 37.5 ppg, which is the most in the Fiscus Era and their highest since the 2010 season. The 37.5 ppg, also ranks them 23rd in the NAIA, but fourth in the Kessinger Division.
Tristan Szabo leads the Bulldogs in the passing game, throwing for 1,439 yards and 17 touchdowns. Szabo has completed 60.2 percent of his passes, but has taken care of the ball, throwing just three interceptions this season, none since week two against Sterling. Traven Lewis-Johnson has caught 20 passes for 392 yards and four touchdowns, while Jalil Brown also has 20 receptions for 239 yards and three scores. Dillion Coleman missed the first four games but has come on late, catching 10 passes for four touchdowns.
The ground attack for the Bulldogs has been a strength this season led by Brown with 798 yards and ten touchdowns. Szabo has also been helpful in the run game, rushing for 305 yards and three scores.
Defensively, the Bulldogs allow just 16.0 ppg, which ranks them 15th in the NAIA, and are allowing just 10.0 ppg over the last three games. MC allows just 284.3 yards per game, and 112.5 rushing yards per game.
Nehemiah Figueroa leads the Bulldogs with four interceptions this season, which put him tied for fifth in the NAIA. Figueroa is second on the team with 37 total tackles. Brandon Jones leads the Bulldogs in tackles with 45, and has blocked one kick. Jacob Goad leads the way with four sacks, while Daryn Stack and Cameron Fouts each have three sacks apiece.
SCOUTING THE VALOR
Evangel enters the contest with a 7-0 record and a 2-0 record in the Kessinger Division. The Valor have won 18-straight KCAC games dating back to last season.
The Valor employ a balanced offensive attack averaging 219.1 rushing yards per game and 211.4 passing yards per game. Evangel also scores at an impressive clip, averaging 38.4 points per game, which ranks them 21st in the nation, and third in the Kessinger Division.
Reid Potts leads the passing attack for the Valor, completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,365 yards and 12 touchdowns, but has thrown seven interceptions. On the receiving end, Broc Lyle leads the Valor with 31 catches for 373 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. Rafe Darter is second on the squad with 22 receptions for 255 yards. Brady Allen was the team's leading receiver in the Valor's 24-21 win over Friends, catching six passes for 104 yards and a score. Eric Williams is the Valor's primary running back, toting it 133 times for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Defensively, Evangel allows just 15.7 points per game, which places them 14th in the NAIA, but third in the Kessinger division. The Valor are led by Bradley Myers who averages 11.6 tackles per game, which ranks him second in the nation. On the back end, Erik Spring leads the way with three interceptions, while Kyair Warner, Chad Phillips, and Nate Swofford each have a pair of interceptions apiece.
SERIES VS. EVANGEL
This is just the second all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Valor winning the first matchup last season 17-7 at McPherson Stadium.
LAST MEETING
The Valor struck first less than five minutes into the game following an interception by Tristan Szabo. Paul Summers II scored on a 25-yard pass from RJ Wakely. Another Szabo interception set the Valor up with a short field, but the Bulldogs defense came up big holding Evangel to just a field goal.
Evangel added to its lead on the next possession marching 99 yards in nine plays, capped off by a 27-yard pass from Wakely to Eric Williams. MC got on the board thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by Szabo and had opportunities to cut into the lead again in the second half, but were stopped on fourth down twice.
BULLDOGS BY THE NUMBERS
Home: 4-0
Away: 3-1
When scoring:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-1
14-20 points: 0-0
21-27 points: 0-0
28-34 points: 1-0
35+ points: 6-0
When allowing:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 4-0
14-20 points: 2-1
21-27 points: 0-0
28-34 points: 1-0
35+ points: 0-0
When scoring first: 5-0
When opponent scores first: 2-1
When leading at halftime: 7-0
When trailing at halftime: 0-1
When tied at halftime: 0-0
OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
The Bulldogs have scored at least 35 points in seven straight games this season. In the Fiscus era, the Bulldogs are 16-0 in games where they score at least 35 points. MC is averaging 37.5 points per game. The Bulldogs have only averaged more than 30 points per game once in the Fiscus era (2021 season averaged 30.5 ppg).
RECORD WATCH
Tristan Szabo needs just 276 passing yards to break the school-record for career passing yards, and jump former Bulldog great Ed Crouch. In the win over Bethany Szabo threw for three touchdowns, tying Shane Mascarenas for the all-time lead in passing touchdowns in McPherson College history. Szabo has accounted for 20 touchdowns this season.
LAST TIME MC WON SEVEN STRAIGHT GAMES…
... Jeremiah Fiscus was a Graduate Assistant at Texas Christian University.
... defensive coordinator Mitch Leppke was in his sophomore year at McPherson College.
... the KCAC had just 10 KCAC football playing members.
... the iPad had just been released.
... everyone dedicated hours of their lives to Angry Birds.
JALIL BROWN
Sophomore running back Jalil Brown has been outstanding this season for the Bulldogs. Brown has three-straight 100-yard rushing games, and is averaging nearly 17 carries per game over the last six games. He has scored a rushing touchdown in all but one game this season, with the Bulldogs week eight win over Bethel being the only game he has not found paydirt on the ground. Brown is responsible for 13 touchdowns (10 rushing, three receiving).
KESSINGER DIVISION UPDATE
Evangel is the lone remaining unbeaten team in the KCAC, but two squads remain unbeaten in Kessinger Division play. Evangel is 2-0 in the division, matched by the Bulldogs. Evangel handed Friends its first loss of the season, coming back to win 24-21. Southwestern topped Bethel 41-14 to improve to 7-1 and 1-1 in Kessinger division play.
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 Southwestern College
Avila University at Ottawa University
Sterling College at University of Saint Mary
Tabor College at Kansas Wesleyan University
Bethel College at Friends University
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...
... be their first ever win over Evangel
... make them 4-1 on the road this season
... extend their winning streak to eight games for the first time since 2010
... improve them to 15-13 in road games under Coach Fiscus
... be the 32nd head coaching win for Coach Fiscus
... be better than a Bulldog loss
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return home next Saturday (Nov. 9) for the first time since Oct. 19 to host No. 23-ranked Friends University. MC has won five of the last six games against the Falcons, but fell 66-17 last year at Riverfront Stadium in Wichita.
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).
