HILLSBORO, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The 2024 McPherson College football season has officially kicked off, but the Bulldogs were on the wrong end of the outcome Saturday (Aug. 31), falling 20-10 to the Tabor College Bluejays at Joel H. Wiens Stadium in Hillsboro, Kan.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were solid, holding Tabor to just 163 yards of total offense. The Bluejays were also 5-for-16 on third down.
The Bluejays marched the ball down the field on the first possession of the game, scoring on a 15-play 75-yard drive that melted 7:58 off the clock, capped off by one-yard touchdown rush by Devin Jones. However, the Bulldogs defense tightened up from there to hold the Bluejays to just seven first half points.
But the Bulldogs were unable to generate too much on the offensive side of the ball, scoring just three points as time expired in the first half.
A Bluejay field goal midway through the third quarter pushed the lead to 10-3, before another interception by Tuiasosopo, this one he returned for a score made it a 17-3 deficit.
Jalil Brown gave the Bulldogs their first touchdown of the season, capping a five play, 44-yard drive with a powerful seven-yard rush in which he refused to be tackled.
But the Bulldogs were unable to get enough stops, as Tabor pushed their lead to 20-10 with less than two minutes remaining.
Tristan Szabo finished 14-for-28 for 109 yards, but threw a pair of interceptions. However, he was effective in the running game, toting it 19 times for 86 yards, both team-highs. Mekhi Haslip added 55 yards on the ground.
Traven Lewis-Johnson caught four passes for 39 yards, while Harley Blaske finished with 26 yards.
The Bulldogs are at home for the first time this season next Saturday (Sept. 7), taking on Sterling College.
