McPHERSON, Kan. – Looking for redemption after losing their playoff opener to Augusta in 2025, the McPherson Bullpups hosted the Orioles to start the 2026 season on Friday night. The Bullpup defense established themselves early and the offense got rolling as the game went on in a 42-6 season-opening victory.
After a quick three-and-out by the defense on Augusta’s opening possession, a short punt set the Bullpups up with great field position. However, a Carter Bengtson pass was intercepted by Marqus Kelly and returned 70 yards for a touchdown to give Augusta a 6-0 lead just over four minutes into the game. The lead and jubilation for the Orioles was short-lived in the end. Bengtson responded from his mistake just two plays into McPherson’s second drive, scoring on a 51-yard run as the Bullpups took a 7-6 lead after a Jaxon Hoover extra point.
Bengtson’s touchdown run started a run of 42 unanswered points for McPherson. A 28-yard shovel pass from Bengtson to Brody Hoffman set up a two-yard score for Dane Becker as the Bullpups led 14-6 after the first quarter. Bengtson added another 11-yard touchdown run with 3:27 left in the second quarter as McPherson held a 21-6 lead going into the locker room.
The lone score in the third quarter was nearly the second interception thrown by Bengtson. A lofted pass near the goal line was tipped high into the air off the hands of Larned safety Roman Bridwell and caught in the end zone by Isyck Puhalla to put McPherson up 28-6.
Bengtson had his third touchdown run of the night from 11 yards out to put the Bullpups up 35-6 early in the fourth and the night was capped by a 13-yard touchdown run from Graham Prescott for the 42-6 final.
Although the offense had a lot of success, the defense was the story of the night for McPherson. Mason Skov had a tough night in his debut as the starting quarterback for Augusta as he was held to just 1-7 passing. The Bullpup defense swarmed to the ball all night, holding the Orioles to just two yards of total offense. On the other side, McPherson racked up 436 total yards. Bengtson threw for 151 yards and a score and added 148 yards on 16 carries with three rushing touchdowns. McPherson totaled 285 yards on the ground.
Opening the season 1-0, the Bullpups will be on the road next Friday night against Great Bend. The Panthers are down to 4A this season and they are 1-0 after a 47-28 win over Scott City on Friday night.
Score by Quarters
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | ||
| Augusta | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| McPherson | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter: Augusta: Kelly 70 interception return (kick failed) (7:50) (Augusta 6-0)
1st Quarter: McPherson: Bengtson 51 run (Hoover kick) (7:29) (McPherson 7-6)
1st Quarter: McPherson: Becker 2 run (Hoover kick) (1:59) (McPherson 14-6)
2nd Quarter: McPherson: Bengtson 11 run (Hoover kick) (3:27) (McPherson 21-6)
3rd Quarter: McPherson: Puhalla 20 pass from Bengtson (Hoover kick) (0:54) (McPherson 28-6)
4th Quarter: McPherson: Bengtson 30 run (Hoover kick) (10:04) (McPherson 35-6)
4th Quarter: Prescott 13 run (Hoover kick) (6:48) (McPherson 42-6)
Final Stats
Augusta
Rushing: Harris 14-8; Stov 7-(-4)
Passing: Stov 1-7-(-2), INT
Receiving: Bridwell 1-(-2)
McPherson
Rushing: Bengtson 16-148, 3 TD; Becker 12-70, TD; Prescott 5-46, TD; Milleson 3-23; Odonez 3-0; Barrera-Prado 1-(-2)
Passing: Bengtson 11-17-151, TD, INT
Receiving: Becker 1-47; Hoffman 2-36; Malm 4-20; Puhalla 1-20, TD; Hoover 1-12; Chapman 1-10; Barkley 1-6; Bullocks 1-6
