McPHERSON, Kan. – McPherson High School Football fell to Augusta for the second time ever, losing on Homecoming Night 50-29 on Friday, Oct. 17.
The loss moves McPherson to 4-3 on the season, 2-2 against AVCTL-3 opponents. It is also their first losing streak since 2021. Augusta is now 2-4 on the season, also 2-2 against league foes.
The first quarter was a shootout between the Bullpups and the Orioles. McPherson struck first on their opening drive on a 34-yard TD pass from QB Carter Bengtson to WR Ashton Malm. Augusta responded in just one play, an 80-yard pass from QB Brody Haskell to WR Brecken Albert to tie the game at seven apiece.
Following a McPherson punt, Augusta scored in just one play again, this time on a 67-yard run by Haskell to lead 14-7. McPherson tied the game on the next drive on an 82-yard pass from Bengtson to Malm. This, however, would be the closest McPherson would be with Augusta for the remainder of the evening. The Orioles scored on their next drive to lead 21-14, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.
Neither team scored in the second quarter until there were less than 30 seconds remaining. Augusta extended its lead with another TD pass by Haskell, this time to Jett Highfill. Two plays later, Haskell intercepted a Bengtson pass to set up Augusta at the 10-yard line. Haskell threw a touchdown pass on the very next play, which was from 10 yards out to TE Cade Camac. The halftime score saw Augusta lead 34-14.
The second half started off as all Augusta, scoring 10 straight points to lead 44-14. The Bullpups scored with 10:28 remaining on a one-yard run by Dane Becker, their first score since the opening quarter. Haskell followed up with his 6th total touchdown and his third on the ground to extend the Orioles’ lead. McPherson’s Brody Milleson found the end zone with less than three minutes left, but Augusta ran the final 2:50 off of the scoreboard to win 50-29.
Augusta finished with 505 total yards of offense, the most given up by McPherson this season. The Bullpups had 420 yards of their own.
Haskell had three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, made a 28-yard field goal, had a defensive interception, and made five PAT kicks. Haskell is no stranger to terrific performances in McPherson as he scored 35 points in the Roundhouse in basketball on Feb. 21. McPherson won that game 73-65.
Malm continued his dominant junior season with 184 receiving yards on nine catches, scoring twice. RB Dane Becker led with 60 rushing yards on 15 carries.
The Bullpups will prepare for a Senior Night rivalry with Buhler, who defeated Winfield to clinch at least a share of the AVCTL-3 title for the second year in a row. The game will kick off from McPherson Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:00 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
Augusta: 21 13 3 13
McPherson: 14 0 0 15
- 9:12 1Q – McPherson: 34-yard TD pass Bengtson to Malm, Hoover PAT Good (7-0 McPherson)
- 8:59 1Q – Augusta: 80-yard TD pass Haskell to Albert, Haskell PAT Good (7-7)
- 4:49 1Q – Augusta: 67-yard TD run Haskell, Haskell PAT Good (14-7 Augusta)
- 3:54 1Q – McPherson: 82-yard TD pass Bengtson to Malm, Hoover PAT Good (14-14)
- 1:49 1Q – Augusta: 17-yard TD run Harris, Haskell PAT Good (21-14 Augusta)
- 0:29 2Q – Augusta: 33-yard TD pass Haskell to Highfill, Haskell PAT Missed (27-14 Augusta)
- 0:10 2Q – Augusta: 10-yard TD pass Haskell to Camac, Haskell PAT Good (34-14 Augusta)
- 9:19 3Q – Augusta: 28-yard FG Haskell (37-14 Augusta)
- 11:52 4Q – Augusta: 11-yard TD run Haskell, Haskell PAT Good (44-14 Augusta)
- 10:28 4Q – McPherson: 1-yard TD run Becker, Hoover PAT Good (44-21 Augusta)
- 5:29 4Q – Augusta: 20-yard TD run Haskell, Haskell PAT Blocked (50-21 Augusta)
- 2:50 4Q – McPherson: 2-yard TD run Milleson, 2pt Pass Good Bengtson to Malm (50-29 Augusta)
STATS
Passing (Completions/Attempts-Yards-TD-INT):
- McPherson: Bengtson 18/24-286-2-1
- Augusta: Haskell 10/13-305-3-0
Rushing (Attempts-Yards-TD):
- McPherson: Becker 15-64-1; Bengtson 10-49-0; Milleson 6-21-1. Total: 32-134-2
- Augusta: Haskell 10-114-3; Roberts 15-55-0; Harris 5-39-1; Terry 2-9-0; Skov 1-(-2)-0. Total: 33-213-4
Receiving (Catches-Yards-TD):
- McPherson: Malm 10-177-2; Pearcy 3-42-0; Barkley 2-26-0; Milleson 1-33-0; Ingels 1-10-0; Chapman 1-(-3)-0
- Augusta: Albert 3-99-1; Camac 3-54-1; Bridwell 1-61-0; Roberts 1-45-0; Highfill 1-33-1
