McPherson, Kan. — The No. 7-ranked Friends University Falcons shook off a slow start and took over to win 48-24 over the No. 12-ranked McPherson College Bulldogs in a battle of unbeatens today (Oct. 17) in the KCAC Bissell Division opener for both teams.
The Bulldogs started quick with a 44-yard touchdown by Jalil Brown on the game's opening drive. Following an interception on the Falcons' first possession, the Bulldogs drove down to the Friends eight yard line but stalled and had to settle for a Jack Finder 25-yard field goal to lead 10-0.
The Falcons had a big answer, getting a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown from
Michael Lopez on the ensuing kickoff to get on the board. After the Bulldogs went 68 yards on five plays to score on a two-yard run by Brown to again lead by 10, Friends responded with another explosive play, this time a 74-yard touchdown run from
E'derian Sykes with 28 seconds left in the first quarter to come within 17-14.
Friends kept it going in the second quarter when
Elon Conley finished a 15-play, 67-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to take its first lead of the game at 28-17 with 4:49 left in the half. The march lasted 9:10 and included
Walker Overman's 27-yard run to the McPherson two before Conley converted on fourth and goal from the one. The Falcon defense continued to settle in, with
Zamarion Manuel breaking up a third-down pass and
Brock Zerger stopping Ryan Markarian for a loss on fourth down on McPherson's final drive before halftime.
The Falcons didn't let up offensively and used two 82-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter, with Conley breaking runs of 63 and 61 yards and Sykes finishing both series with 1-yard scores.
Connor Tillman made both extra points as Friends built a 35-17 lead before McPherson answered with Brown's third touchdown at the 2:18 mark.
After
Jake Lucky sacked Markarian and
Leshaon Davis recovered the fumble, Friends opened its fourth-quarter scoring with Lopez breaking a 78-yard touchdown run two plays later to push the lead back to 18 at 42-24.
Saul Somoza added another sack and fumble recovery at the McPherson 37, and the Falcons turned the short field into Sykes' 7-yard touchdown run to effectively put it away with just 4:24 left in the game.
Sykes rushed for a season-high 140 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries, with Conley leading the Falcons with a career-best 159 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Lopez scored twice, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown and adding the kickoff return score that got the Falcons off and running.
Cale Milleson finished with a team and career-high 10 tackles for the Falcons, with Zerger and
Tyson Wallace each making eight stops. Somoza and Lucky each had a sack and forced a fumble, with Somoza also making the recovery.
Brown rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who fall to 6-1 on the season. Markarian completed 27 of 40 passes for 298 yards and Jamai Rutherford finished with eight receptions for 102 yards. Matthew Garcia Jr. recorded an interception and four tackles.
The 7-0 Falcons will have another challenge next Saturday against (RV) Southwestern College. Kickoff will be at 1 pm at Adair-Austin Stadium.
