McPHERSON, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) – The McPherson College Bulldogs season came to an end Saturday (Nov. 16) with a 41-17 loss to the No. 21-ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders McPherson Stadium.
The Builders got the ball first, and showed why they were one of the nation’s top offenses. Braden Howell found Jamel Toney- Black for a 40-yard completion on the very first play from scrimmage, then melted over seven minutes, before taking a 7-0 lead on a one-yard rushing touchdown by the SC quarterback Braden Howell.
MC responded early in the second with a 46-yard field goal, but a pair of interceptions by Corey McCoy set up the Moundbuilders with a short field. Howell scored from four yards out to push the Builder lead to 14-3, then a touchdown pass from Christian Steward to Bryce Chambers made it a 21-3 Builder advantage heading into the break.
Out of the half, the Builders tried a double reverse, but Avery Crawford scooped up a fumble and returned it for the touchdown, nearly cutting the lead in half.
But that would be short lived, as the Builders tacked on two more scores, including a pick-six by McCoy to blow the game wide open.
The Bulldogs showed signs of live late in the third quarter, when Kameron Hamid found an opening in the defense, and caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Tristan Szabo.
MC was held to just 215 yards of total offense and 64 yards rushing, both their lowest totals of the season. Szabo was the Bulldogs leading rusher with 13 carries for 35 yards. He finished with 151 passing yards and one touchdown, but had four interceptions, three in the first half.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs season could be considered a successful one, finishing with an 8-3 record in head coach Jeremiah Fiscus‘ sixth year at the helm. The eight wins are the most by the program since the 2010 season.