[Football] Bulldogs Rally for 26-20 win over Football Falcons
WICHITA, Kan. – Down by 20 points in the first half, the McPherson College Bulldogs charged back with 26 unanswered points to win 26-20 over the Friends University Falcons on Homecoming today (Oct. 5) at Adair-Austin Stadium.
The Falcons got off to a solid start as Javonte Stewart busted loose to block a punt and returned it for a touchdown late in the opening quarter.
A pair of Quincy Brown (SR/Redding, Calif. ) touchdowns later, and the Falcons were up 20-0 midway through the second period.
But the Bulldogs got on the board when Ed Crouch hit Ben Nikkel up the seam for a 35 yard score in the final stages of the opening half.
Corey Davis then found the end zone twice, once in the third quarter and then again with 4:24 left in the game to tie the score at 20-20.
On the Bulldogs' next possession, Crouch got free for a 61 yard run that set up a touchdown pass to David Ross that gave McPherson its first lead of the contest.
The Falcons had a final chance, but a pair of sacks by Charles Tisby halted the drive in the final seconds.
In his first career start under center, Joshua Morris (FR/Mt. Pleasant, Texas) rushed for 56 yards and threw for 34 more.
Brown fueled the Falcons' attack on the ground, rushing for a career-best 102 yards along with the two scores.
Crouch anchored the Bulldogs' offense on the ground and through the air, leading the team with 141 rushing yards while throwing for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Nikkel led the Bulldogs with eight receptions for 82 yards.
Defensively, Tasnan Dericho (JR/Orlando, Fla.) recovered a fumble at the two yard line in the second quarter that set up Brown's first touchdown.
Jagger Blubaugh (FR/Wichita, Kan. ) led the Falcons (1-4, 1-4 KCAC) with a career-high 12 tackles and had a fumble recovery, while Adam Brown (SO/Wichita, Kan. ), Jeremiah Pharms (SR/Stockton, Calif. ), Kevin McKenzie (JR/Keota, Okla.) and Tyler Wilson (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) each recorded a half sack. In addition to his blocked punt and score, Stewart also forced and recovered a fumble for Friends.
Zane Hickey paced McPherson (2-3, 2-2 KCAC) with 10 tackles on the day.
The Falcons will next be at (RV) Sterling College next Saturday (Oct. 12) starting at 1:30 pm in Sterling, Kan.