BY CHARLES CHANEY
MCPHERSON, Kan. — A little over 10 years ago Augusta went into McPherson and stunned the Bullpups for their first ever win over McPherson.
Fast forward a decade and they did it again.
Brody Haskell threw for 298 yards and ran for three touchdowns as Augusta blew the doors off McPherson’s homecoming, 50-29.
It’s the first time since 2013 McPherson allowed 50 points and it was fun for the Orioles. Not even unbeaten Great Bend put up 50 on this Bullpup team.
After weeks of heart break, the dam finally broke for Augusta and all the points came flooding through. You knew it was going to be a big game when they scored on their first two plays from scrimmage, a big 80-yard pass to Brecken Albert and then Haskell scampered for 67 yards of his own to give Augusta the 14-7 lead.
You knew this team was one of the better teams in their record group, showing they were better than ‘1-5’. They looked down right scary on Friday night.
They jumped out to a 21-14 lead after Jaydyn Harris sliced through the heart of the McPherson defense for the touchdown.
That was just the first quarter.
The Oriole defense had enough. They would not allow a point until late in the fourth quarter when they did tack on some scoring against the JV squad. The Varsity defense showed why they only allowed three points last week. Jordan Abbott’s defense is firing on all cylinders.
Big fourth down stop right to start the second quarter when James Sanger came through the line to tackle a Bullpup defender to turn it over on downs.
They would force a punt on the next drive. Then, it was Haskell getting an interception, returning it deep into McPherson territory on the next possession. Just stops after stops for the Oriole defense.
Their defense was firing off the ball while Haskell and the offense were humming. Haskell would hit Jett Highfill on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds to go until half and put the Orioles up 27-14.
Carter Bengsten then made a mistake as Haskell got the pick. One play later, Haskell found Cade Camac for the 10-yard touchdown pass as Augusta led 34-14 at the break.
After a Haskell 28-yard field goal, the defense once again came through. Despite a running into the punter penalty extended a drive for McPherson, the defense stood tall on a fourth-and-3 at the Oriole 13-yard line. It was Sanger getting a hand on a jersey, slowing him down just enough and Augusta shut down the threat.
Roman Bridwell made a great catch on the next possession, flipping the field all the way to the McPherson 30-yard line. Haskell would run it from 11 yards out for the 44-14 lead with 11:52 remaining in the game.
He’d add on a 20-yard run for good measure.
Haskell had three rushing and three passing touchdowns. He also kicked all the extra points and hit a 28-yard field goal. He had 406 yards of total offense. The senior has put this team on his back and they’ll go as far as he’s willing to take them.
Augusta now will host Circle, who is coming off a stunning overtime loss to Fort Scott. Circle has won three of the last four over Augusta, including a 42-35 thriller four years ago in Augusta.
Augusta 50, McPherson 29
Augusta 21 13 3 13 — 50
McPherson 14 0 0 15 — 29
M – Ashton Malm 34 pass from Carter Bengston (Jaxon Hoover kick)
A – Brecken Albert 80 pass from Brody Haskell (Haskell kick)
A – Haskell 67 run (Haskell kick)
M – Malm 82 pass from Carter Bengtson (Hoover kick)
A – Jaydyn Harris 17 run (Haskell kick)
A – Jett Highfill 33 pass from Haskell (kick no good)
A – Cade Camac 10 pass from Haskell (Haskell kick)
A – Haskell 28 FG
A – Haskell 11 run (Haskell kick)
M – Dane Becker 1 run (Hoover kick)
A – Haskell 20 run (kick blocked)
M – Brody Milleson 2 run (Bengston pass to Malm)
RUSHING: Augusta – Haskell 10-114-3; Roberts 15-55; Harris 5-39-1; Terry 2-9; team 1-(-4). TOTALS: 23-213. McPherson – Becker 15-60; Milleson 6-21; Bengston 11-38; Malm 1-3. Totals. 33-122.
PASSING (C-A-YD-TD-INT): Augusta – Haskell 9-13-292-3-1. McPherson – Bengston 17-23-298-2-1.
RECEIVING: Augusta – Albert 3-99-1; Roberts 1-45; Camac 3-54-1; Highfill 1-33-1; Bridwell 1-61. McPherson – Malm 9-184-1; Barkley 2-27; Ingels 1-10; Pearcy 2-42; Chapman 1-(-2); Milleson 1-37.
