Football | 9/27/2024 5:17:00 PM
McPherson College (3-1) vs Avila University (0-3)
Saturday, Sep. 28, 2024 | 1:00 PM | Zarda Sports Complex | Kansas City, Mo.
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Riding their first three-game winning streak since 2019, the Bulldogs travel to Kansas City, Mo., for a non-divisional bout with Avila University Saturday (Sep. 28).
A LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
The Bulldogs come in to the game with a 3-1 record, and allows just 18.5 points per game. MC average 219 rushing yards per game which places them third in the Kessinger Division.
Jalil Brown is the Bulldogs most effective rusher with 359 yards on 48 carries (7.5 ypc) and a team-high six touchdowns, which is tied for the most in the Kessinger Division. Tristan Szabo is second on the team with 135 rushing yards, and leads MC with 364 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Bulldogs defensively are allowing just 272.3 total yards per contest and have forced eight turnovers. Nehemiah Figueroa leads the way with three interceptions, and is also tops on the team with 23 total tackles. Jacob Goad has a team-high two sacks through the first four games, while Lester Amos is second with 1.5 sacks.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Avila enters the contest with a 1-3 record, but have lost three-straight to Southwestern, Friends, and Bethel.
The Eagles average just 18.0 points per game, and are held to just 60.8 rushing yards per contest. AU has used two quarterbacks this season with Nick Sandford II throwing for 510 yards and three touchdowns. Eli Williams missed the first two games, but has 264 yards on 26-for-56 passing.
Defensively, the Eagles allow 34.3 points per game, and 442.8 yards per game. AU also has six takeaways, all of them fumble recoveries. Jorge Pitones and Joshua Robinson lead the Eagles with 19 tackles apiece, while Kameron Green has 18 tackles.
THE SERIES VS. AVILA
Since the Eagles joined the KCAC in 2018, Avila leads the series 4-1. The Eagles won the first four meetings between the two schools, including each of the first three coming in Kansas City.
LAST MEETING
The Bulldogs took the last meeting 42-21 at McPherson Stadium in 2023. MC finished with 469 yards of total offense in the game and were incredibly balanced with 238 yards on the ground, and 231 through the air.
Tristan Szabo finished with five touchdown passes to five different players. Brysen Kerby was the Bulldogs' leading rusher, finishing with 102 yards and a touchdown.
QUOTING FISCUS
"We're so excited for the trip with another opportunity to compete. We will have to make sure we handle the details and timing of the early trip and be ready to get off the bus with a lot of energy and focus."
BULLDOGS BY THE NUMBERS
Home: 2-0
Away: 1-1
When scoring:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-1
14-20 points: 0-0
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 3-0
When allowing:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 1-0
14-20 points: 1-1
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 1-0
When scoring first: 3-0
When opponent scores first: 0-1
When leading at halftime: 3-0
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 nine passes for 174 yards. Lewis-Johnson also has two touchdowns, both over 50 yards. In his career, Lewis-Johnson has seven touchdown receptions, all over 20+ yards, and three over 55 yards. He is closing in on 1,000 yards for his career, needing just 265 yards.
CONFERENCE UPDATE
The Kessinger Division once again swept the Bissell Division for the second week in a row, after Friends took down Kansas Wesleyan 28-26, Bethany knocked off Sterling 35-14, Bethel took care of business against Avila 20-17, and Southwestern blanked Tabor 42-0. Four Kessinger Division squads remain unbeaten with Bethel, Evangel, Friends, and Southwestern all 4-0 on the season.
ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Bethany College at University of Saint Mary
Southwestern College at Sterling College
Evangel University at Ottawa University
Friends University at Tabor College
Bethel College at Kansas Wesleyan 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 second straight win over Avila
... make them 2-1 on the road this season
... be their first four-game winning streak since 2019
... improve them to 2-3 against the Braves under Coach Fiscus
... improve them to 14-14 on the road under Coach Fiscus
... be the 28th head coaching win for Coach Fiscus
... be better than a Bulldog loss
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return to McPherson Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 5) for the final non-divisional contest, playing host to Kansas Wesleyan University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Kansas Wesleyan has won the last nine games against the Bulldogs.
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).
