McPHERSON, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) – McPherson College (1-1) vs University of Saint Mary (0-2)
Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024 | 1:00 PM | Charles Berkel Memorial Stadium, Leavenworth, Kan.
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The McPherson College Bulldogs hit the road Saturday (Sep. 14), traveling to Leavenworth in search of back-to-back wins for the first time in 2024.
A LOOK AT THE DOGS
The Bulldogs enter the contest with a 1-1 record, following last weekend’s 42-30 win over Sterling College. MC forced six turnovers, including five interceptions, and the defense scored two touchdowns.
MC is averaging 26.0 points per game, and 261.0 yards per game. The Bulldogs have been most effective on the ground, rushing for 167.5 yards per contest. Tristan Szabo has been the Bulldogs’ leading rusher, toting it 26 times for 115 yards. Jalil Brown and Brysen Kerby each have two touchdowns on the ground.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are holding their opponent to just 25.0 points per game, and 266.5 yards per game. Nehemiah Figueroa has picked up where he left off last season, leading the way with three interceptions, while Jaquez Wilson and Avery Crawford each have a pick apiece. Jacob Goad has been applying the pressure on the defensive line, leading MC with two sacks and three tackles for loss.
SCOUTING THE SPIRES
Saint Mary comes into the game with an 0-2 record, after falling to Friends 52-6 and Bethel 33-17. The Spires are averaging just 11.5 ppg, and have allowed 451.0 yards of offense per game.
Offensively, the Spires have been most effective in the passing game, averaging 193.5 passing yards per game. USM has used two quarterbacks with Erick Covington leading the way with 228 yards and one touchdown. Cesar Vela threw for 159 yards in his only game this season, throwing two interceptions in their loss to Bethel College.
The Spires defense has forced two turnovers with Michael Graham and Keylin Hodge each intercepting one pass. Jaxon Curtis leads the Spires with 21 tackles, while Josh Inserra has three tackles for loss. In two games, USM has yet to record a sack.
THE SERIES VS. SAINT MARY
Since the 2004 season, the Bulldogs are 9-10 in the series against Saint Mary. MC lost the last meeting between the two teams, snapping a three-game winning streak against the Spires. Prior to that streak, the Bulldogs fell in four-straight. MC has won each of the last two games in Leavenworth. In the Fiscus era, MC is 3-1 against the Spires.
LAST MEETING
Saint Mary’s quarterback Shane Bishop threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Alejandro Martinez-Loera for what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown with just 1:24 left to play to push the Spires ahead 36-32.
Tristan Szabo gave the Bulldogs a chance late, leading a 12-play 62-yard drive before a pass to Tyson Bochert was broken up at the goal line. The Spires raced out to a 12-0 advantage early, but the Bulldogs responded with 17 straight points to lead 17-12 at the break. A 59-yard touchdown pass by Szabo to Bochert pushed MC ahead with 5:15 left in the fourth quarter.
Jalil Brown led the Bulldogs in the running game, carrying the ball nine times for 105 yards. Bochert caught six passes for 121 yards.
QUOTING FISCUS
“We look forward to the next opportunity. It’s a long and early road trip to face a very respected Saint Mary team. WE will have to hit a point of maturity quickly on this road trip. Our players will be excited to play, and will be looking forward to the opportunity to compete.”
BULLDOGS BY THE NUMBERS
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-1
When scoring:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-1
14-20 points: 0-0
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 1-0
When allowing:
0-6 points: 0-0
7-13 points: 0-0
14-20 points: 0-1
21-27 points: 0-0
28+ points: 0-1
When scoring first: 1-0
When opponent scores first: 0-1
When leading at halftime: 2-0
When trailing at halftime: 0-0
When tied at halftime: 0-0
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following his career performance, Nehemiah Figueroa was named both KCAC and NAIA Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career. The Boyertown, Pa. native was unstoppable on the defensive side of the ball last week, intercepting three passes, and returning one for a touchdown. Figueroa also made 12 total tackles, including six solo stops, and broke up one pass. In two-career games against the Warriors Figueroa has five interceptions, a touchdown, 15 tackles, and a fumble recovery. He has 10 career interceptions.
CHASING HISTORY
With the win last week against Sterling, head coach Jeremiah Fiscus moved into second on the all-time wins list with 25 wins in his career at McPherson College. He passed David Cunningham who coached the Bulldogs for five seasons between 2002-2006. Sid Smith is the all-time winningest coach in McPherson history with 57 wins over 16 seasons from 1953-1966.
CONFERENCE UPDATE
Four Kessinger Division teams are 2-0 with Bethel College, Southwestern, Friends, and Evangel all unbeaten on the season. Southwestern knocked off Avila 40-21, and Friends took down last season’s Bissell division winner Ottawa 33-7. Evangel topped Tabor 33-17. The lone Kessinger Division team to not pick up a win last weekend was Bethany College, falling to Kansas Wesleyan 54-16.
Four KCAC teams were recognized in this week’s NAIA Football GoRout Coaches Poll, including three Kessinger Division squads. Evangel came in at No. 16 and Friends was rated No. 21, while Southwestern and Kansas Wesleyan were each receiving votes.
OVER THE AIRWAVES
Never miss a moment of the action this season thanks to Ad Astra Radio. Every Bulldog football game will be broadcast on 98.9 FM KMCP. Listen live to play-by-play voice Lane Gillespie as he calls all the action when the Bulldogs are at home or on the road.
A BULLDOG WIN WOULD…
… give them back-to-back wins for the first time in 2024
… snap a five-game road losing streak dating back to last season
… improve them to 4-1 against the Spires under Coach Fiscus
… make them to 13-14 on the road under Coach Fiscus
… be better than a Bulldog loss
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return to McPherson Stadium next Saturday (Sep. 21) to square off against the Ottawa University Braves. The Bulldogs routed the Braves 60-17 in the 2023 meeting between the teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
COACH FISCUS
Jeremiah Fiscus enters his sixth year as the head coach of the McPherson College Football team in 2024.
The 2022 season proved to be a promising one, as Fiscus led the Bulldogs to a 5-5 record, but four of those five setbacks came to the top teams in the KCAC by a combined five points.
In his five years at McPherson, Fiscus has coached 57 All-KCAC players, including six first-team selections and 14 players landing on the All-KCAC second team. He has also coached three NAIA All-Americans, including 2020 KCAC Special Teams Player of the Year, Melvin Reed, and 2022 KCAC Player of the Year, Jonathan White.
Coach Fiscus is a former Bulldog who played for the college from 2006 – 2007 under coaches Dave Cunningham and Brian Ward.
Upon graduation from McPherson, he was hired as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was the running backs coach. After earning a master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern State in 2010, Coach Fiscus was hired as a graduate assistant at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. While at TCU, he earned another master’s degree, this one in educational administration, and worked for head coach Gary Patterson as assistant offensive line coach and recruiting assistant.
In his two seasons at TCU, the Horned Frogs won two Mountain West Conference championships, in addition to winning the Rose Bowl and the Poinsettia Bowl. He coached two All-Conference offensive linemen and the MWC offensive player of the year, Andy Dalton.
After two years with the Horned Frogs, Coach Fiscus was hired by Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He spent six seasons with the Reddies in a multitude of positions. He worked as director of equipment operations, team travel coordinator, NFL liaison, OL/TE/FB coach, recruiting coordinator, and offensive coordinator. During his time there, the Reddies won three GAC championships, had three NCAA D2 playoff appearances, and twice were #1 in scoring offense in NCAA D2 football.
Coach Fiscus is a 2003 graduate of Stafford High School in Kansas and was a multi-sport standout, lettering in track and field and football. After high school, he attended Dodge City Community College, playing for the Conquistadors from 2003-2005. After getting his associate degree at DCCC, Coach Fiscus transferred to McPherson College, where he played for two seasons and finished his education, graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in education.
Coach Fiscus is married to Jessie, and they have two daughters, Lennox (2016), and Laiken (2019), and a son Leonard (2021).
