Panthers Slow Down Bullpup Offense

GREAT BEND, Kan. – After putting up 42 points and over 400 yards of offense in their season-opening win over Augusta, the McPherson Bullpup offense was held out of the end zone in game two on Friday night. Great Bend put together timely plays on both offense and defense to pick a 21-3 win over McPherson.

The two teams played to a scoreless first quarter with both defenses standing up to the opposing offenses. The Panthers got on the board first on a 10-yard touchdown run from running back Cal Schartz, taking a 6-0 lead with 10:26 remaining.

After an interception by Gavin Wondra, Great Bend had a drive that went inside the McPherson 10, but after a penalty, the Bullpup defense stopped the Panthers and forced a turnover on downs at the 13 with just 3:10 remaining in the first half. The Bullpups were down to the Great Bend 13 in just five plays, but a penalty pushed them back to 3rd and 11 from the 15. On the ensuing play, Ashton Malm made an outstanding catch on a fade pattern to the end zone, but officials deemed he landed out of bounds and McPherson settled for a 32-yard field goal from Jaxon Hoover with 32 seconds remaining in the first half. The two teams went to the locker room with Great Bend leading 7-3.

McPherson had the ball to start the second half, but a 41-yard pick-six from Jaxon Wondra gave the Panthers a 14-3 with 10:38 remaining in the third quarter. McPherson took their next drive all the way to the Great Bend five-yard line, but were pushed back on 4th & 1 for a turnover on downs. Great Bend still held the 14-3 lead after three quarters.

McPherson had the ball early in the fourth, but their drive stalled. After a Bullpup punt, Great Bend bled three minutes and 33 seconds off the clock, finishing with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Maxson Smiley to K-State commit Cooper Ohnmacht. Great Bend held a 21-3 lead with 6:00 left and finished with the 18-point win in the end.

Great Bend finished with 253 yards of total offense. Smiley finished with 120 yards on 12-18 passing, as Ohnmacht had nine of those receptions for 106 yards and the touchdown. Cal Schartz wen over 100 yards for the second straight game with 101 on 23 carries. McPherson had 234 yards on the night. Bengtson went 13-23 for 154 yards and two interceptions passing.

McPherson is now 1-1 on the season and will be back at Brubaker Family Stadium this coming Friday night against Buhler. The Crusaders are 2-0 after a comeback 28-23 win over Mulvane on Friday night in Buhler.

Score by Quarters