Football | 11/8/2024 1:41:00 PM
(RV) McPherson College (8-1) vs #20 Friends University (8-1)
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 | 1:00 PM | Paul Family Field at McPherson Stadium | McPherson, Kan.
WATCH | LISTEN | TICKETS | STATS
Fresh off arguably the biggest win in the Fiscus Era, the Bulldogs return to McPherson Stadium to take on No. 20-ranked Friends University Saturday (Nov. 9).
A LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
MC enters the contest with an 8-1 record, and are riding an eight-game winning streak, their longest since 2010. The Bulldogs are averaging 37.1 points per game, which ranks them third in the Kessinger Division, and 24th in the NAIA.
The Bulldogs are led by a solid one-two punch of Tristan Szabo in the passing game, and Jalil Brown on the ground. Szabo is averaging 189.8 yards per game and has 19 touchdowns to just four interceptions. Szabo has seen an uptick in the Bulldogs' passing attack over the last three games, averaging 256.0 yards per game and has eight touchdown passes over that stretch. Brown leads the Bulldogs in rushing, with 930 yards and 12 touchdowns. Brown is averaging 6.8 yards per carry which is 13th in the NAIA and third in the KCAC.
On the defensive side, the Bulldogs hold their opponents 17.2 points per game, and 14.7 ppg during Kessinger Division play. MC has six interceptions since the schedule switched to divisional play, including a pair of picks in the win over Evangel. Nehemiah Figueroa leads the Bulldogs with five interceptions, which ties him for third in the NAIA.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Friends is 8-1 entering the game with their lone loss coming to Evangel in Wichita. The Falcons are second in the division with 38.1 points per game, and lead the nation with 410.8 rushing yards per game. The Falcons run the triple-option at a high level, scoring 40 rushing touchdowns which is second in the NAIA.
Elias Pino leads the way for the Falcons with 713 yards and nine touchdowns, while K'Vonte Baker is second on the team with 700 rushing yards and a team-best 10 scores. Nick Cordova has rushed for 558 yards and six touchdowns.
The Falcons have thrown the ball just 51 times this season for 572 yards and four touchdowns. Baker is the Falcons leading passer completing 10 of 34 passes for 293 yards. Friends' highest passing total of the season is 152 yards in their 28-26 win over Kansas Wesleyan.
Defensively, the Falcons lead the Kessinger Division, allowing 13.1 points per game and have allowed over 30 points in one game this season (31 points in their win over Southwestern). The Falcons allow just 232.4 yards per game, and keep their opponents under 100 yards rushing per game (73.9).
SERIES VS. FRIENDS
This is the 83rd all-time meeting between the two schools, dating back to 1924. The Falcons hold a 44-37-1 advantage in the all-time series, but the Bulldogs have won five of the last six meetings, with last season's matchup as the lone setback over that stretch. Prior to that, the Falcons won five straight, including three by at least 28 points.
LAST MEETING
The Falcons rushed for 470 yards in the 2023 meeting to knock off the Bulldogs 66-17 at Riverfront Stadium in Wichita, Kan. MC was held to a season-low 197 yards of total offense, and just 94 yards through the air. The Bulldogs trailed 17-14 at the break, however the flood gates opened for the Falcons scoring 49 points in the second half.
Jeremiah Mosley and Wyatt Smith were the Bulldogs quarterbacks in the contest and combined for four interceptions. Mosley was 5-for-9 for 48 yards, while Smith finished 5-for-13 for 46 yards. Jalil Brown was a bright spot for the Bulldogs, carrying it 10 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
BULLDOGS BY THE NUMBERS
Home: 4-0
Away: 4-1
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: 2-0
35+ points: 6-0
When allowing:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 4-0
14-20 points: 2-1
21-27 points: 1-0
28-34 points: 1-0
35+ points: 0-0
When scoring first: 6-0
When opponent scores first: 2-1
When leading at halftime: 7-0
When trailing at halftime: 0-1
When tied at halftime: 1-0
RECORD WATCH
Tristan Szabo found Harley Blaske for a seven-yard touchdown on the Bulldogs first drive of the game to make him the new all-time leader in career touchdown passes. Szabo now has 73 career touchdown passes and counting. He is also chasing down another career record, as he attempts to track down former Bulldog Great Ed Crouch in career passing yards. Szabo needs just eight yards to pass Crouch.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Thanks to his outstanding performance in the Bulldogs upset victory over No. 16-ranked Evangel, Jalil Brown was named KCAC Offensive Player of the Week. Brown finished with 247 yards from scrimmage, and a pair of touchdowns. He also had a career-high 30 carries for 132 yards.
Brown was instrumental on the final drive, catching a swing pass and taking it 69-yards to the one-yard line, then punched it in two plays later. Brown has four-straight games with at least 100 yards rushing, and has scored a rushing touchdown in all but one game. He is responsible for 15 touchdowns this season (12 rushing, 3 receiving).
RECEIVING VOTES
For the first time since 2011, the Bulldogs have entered national conversation, receiving votes in the latest GoRout NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. MC received 20 votes in Monday's Poll which slates them one spot out of the Top 25, and 16 votes behind KCAC foe Southwestern. The Bulldogs' highest ever rating was No. Six during the 2010 season.
LAST TIME MC WON EIGHT 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.
KESSINGER DIVISION UPDATE
The Bulldogs are in the driver's seat in the division, as the lone unbeaten team in Kessinger Division play. Friends, Evangel, and Southwestern each have one loss in divisional play, with Evangel holding a win over Friends, and the Falcons hold a win over Southwestern. Evangel and Southwestern will play Saturday (Nov. 9) in Springfield, Mo.
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
Avila University at Sterling College
Ottawa University at Kansas Wesleyan University
Bethany College at Bethel College
University of Saint Mary at Tabor College
Southwestern College at Evangel 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...
... improve them to 38-44-1 against Friends University in the all-time series
... make them 5-0 at McPherson Stadium this season
... extend their winning streak to nine games for the first time since 2010
... improve them to 17-11 at home under Coach Fiscus
... be the 33rd head coaching win for Coach Fiscus
... be better than a Bulldog loss
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season next weekend (Nov. 16) against Southwestern College at McPherson Stadium. The Moundbuilders won the 2023 meeting 28-21 in Winfield.
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).
