Bullpup Football Spoils Winfield’s Comeback Effort, Win Homecoming OT Thriller 29-23

McPHERSON, Kan. – The McPherson High School Bullpup football team hosted homecoming night Friday, Sep. 27, defeating the Winfield Vikings in overtime 29-23 despite giving up 16 unanswered points in the 4th quarter.

Just like the three previous games, the Bullpups started strong, scoring on their third defensive play of the game with a 31-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Bishop Brown, putting Mac up 7-0. McPherson forced Winfield to punt on the ensuing drive before scoring on a 43-yard pass from Carter Allen to Ashton Malm, giving McPherson an early 13-0 lead. Winfield followed up with a 13-yard TD pass to put it 13-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was all McPherson, starting off with an 18-yard rushing touchdown by Allen to earn him his first rushing TD of the season. As time ran out in the half, freshman kicker Jaxon Hoover made his first FG of the season from 32 yards out, putting McPherson up at halftime 23-7.

After a scoreless third, Winfield fired back from their 16-point deficit. A 6-yard touchdown pass pulled them closer with the ensuing 2-point conversion succeeding despite it being from 13 yards from the goal line after a penalty, making it a 23-15 Bullpup lead. With around two minutes left, Winfield stormed down the field and scored on a 29-yard pass to put it within two points. Winfield converted on the two-point try on a QB designed run, tying the game at 23. McPherson’s Ashton Malm returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back due to holding. The Bullpups ran the clock down to end regulation and send the game to overtime.

Winfield got the ball first, but turned the ball over on downs after a fumbled snap on 4th & Goal at the 1 yard line. McPherson had their turn, scoring on their third play of OT on a three-yard TD run by Brock Richardson to win the game for the Bullpups.

McPherson improves to 2-2 on the season and is a perfect 2-0 against AVCTL Div. 3 opponents. Winfield falls to 3-1 (1-1 AVCTL Div. 3).

The Bullpups will be on the road for three of their last four games of the regular season, starting off with a road trip to Rose Hill Friday, Oct. 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Coverage of the game can be heard on 98.9/1540 KMCP.

STATS

Passing:

C. Allen: 10/12, 128 yds., 1 TD, Long: 43 yds.

Rushing:

C. German: 15 att., 45 yds.

C. Allen: 17 att., 23 yds., 1 TD

C. Delaney: 3 att., 12 yds.

D. Becker: 1 att., 7 yds.

B. Richardson: 1 att., 3 yds., 1 TD

Receiving:

A. Malm: 3 rec., 66 yds., 1 TD

B. Richardson: 1 rec., 21 yds.