McPHERSON, Kan. (MACBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs scored 37 unanswered points after falling behind 10-0 to rout the Tabor College Bluejays 51-17 in their season opener at McPherson Stadium.
“I was really proud of the way the kids competed,” head coach Jeremiah Fiscus said. “The defense was very dominant. It was good to see some new pieces that we picked up last spring really contribute, and then some of the familiar faces from last year did some really good things.”
The Bulldogs showed some rust in the early going when Jayton Alexander intercepted McPherson quarterback Tristan Szabo and returned it for six to put the Bluejays on top 10-0.
“They didn’t let the adversity of being down ten points bother them,” Fiscus said. “They really stuck together and held each other accountable.”
That interception proved to be the lone mistake that the Junior quarterback made en route to a career-high 405 yards and three scores.
Alex Hill put the Bulldogs on the board with a 36-yard touchdown reception, and then Brysen Kerby made it 14-10 with a 42-yard scamper with just 1:50 left in the opening half. Szabo decided that the Bulldogs weren’t done scoring in the second quarter, taking it 39 yards for the score with just 20 seconds remaining.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with fireworks with the defensive line putting pressure on Tyson Dozhier in the endzone and forcing him into an intentional grounding penalty, resulting in a safety. They then took the ensuing drive 61 yards in four plays capped off by a 5-yard run by Kerby to make it a 30-10 Bulldog lead.
Another Szabo touchdown pass, this one a 20-yard shot to Tyson Bochert, pushed the lead to 37-10 with 8:44 left in the contest. His third and final touchdown pass went to Traven Lewis-Johnson.
The Bulldogs put the icing on the cake with 2:46 left in the game when Hayden Fry punched it in from two yards out.
“Offensively, a lot of guys touched the ball,” Fiscus said. “I was really proud of their efforts. Once we got rid of the first game jitters, they really started to execute and showcase what their abilities are.”
Kerby led the Bulldogs in rushing with 65 yards on ten carries and a pair of touchdowns, while Szabo added 62 yards on the ground and one score. Hill finished with eight grabs for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Bulldogs held Dozhier to just 143 yards through the air, 47 coming on a touchdown to Isiah Williams in the fourth quarter. Avery Crawford and Nehemiah Figueroa each picked off Dozhier, with Figueroa returning his 28 yards, setting up the Fry touchdown. Taeylon Garland and Cameron Fouts each finished with six total tackles, and Garland chipped in on a sack with Jaquez Wilson.
“The defense was very physical,” Fiscus said. “They ran to the football really well in a relentless hunt.”
The Bulldogs hit the road for the first time, traveling to Sterling next Saturday (Sep. 2). The team will return to McPherson Stadium on Sep. 9 to take on Saint Mary.
