WINFIELD, Kan. – Southwestern looks to bounce back from a 42-28 loss to Friends University as the Builders welcome the McPherson College Bulldogs to Winfield for a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Bissell Division fixture. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Richard L. Jantz Stadium.
Southwestern (6-2) enters the matchup tied for third place in the Bissell Division (1-1) alongside the visiting Bulldogs, with both teams falling to Friends in the past two weeks.
The Builders' offense has been the shining light through the first nine weeks of the 2025 campaign. Quarterback Jamie Odom has led Southwestern to the top of nearly every statistical chart, with the Builders ranked second best in points (52) and total yards (543) per game in the NAIA. Receiver Matthew Holthusen continues to be the favorite target of Odom's, bringing in a team-high 41 passes for 975 yards and 12 scores. While Holthusen has dominated on deep balls, receiver Joe Smyth has been a dangerous threat out of the backfield and in the pass game, tallying 48 rush yards, 47 receiving yards, and a touchdown against Friends.
McPherson has also had a strong offensive presence in the NAIA this year. The Bulldogs have the sixth-best passing offense in the nation, led by Junior Quarterback Ryan Markarian. Markarian threw for a season-high five touchdown passes in week eight and will look to do the same in Winfield. Junior Jalil Brown leads the way for the Bulldogs' ground game, averaging 105 rushing yards and a touchdown per game.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have only allowed 16 points per game, placing them among the top 15 defensive units in the NAIA. Linebackers Jonavan Asuncion and Gabe Goodnight have excelled for the Bulldogs, totaling 100 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions in 2025.
Southwestern's defense has boasted similar numbers to the Bulldogs, allowing 19 points and 271 yards of total offense per game. Defensive lineman Jamarion Citizen has been a crucial piece to the Builders' defense, earning 30 total tackles, five tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery so far this season.
The matchup has favored the Southwestern in the past 10 seasons, with the Builders holding a record of 7-3 since 2014. The Builders won last year's contest by a score of 41-17 at Paul Family Field in McPherson.
