(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 21)—The McKendree College football team kept its perfect record in Homecoming games intact with a 42-7 victory Saturday at Leemon Field against William Penn University.

 

Playing in front of nearly 1,000 alumni and fans – including members of the Bearcats’ inaugural 1996 squad – the Bearcats used a big second half to pull away for its 11^th consecutive win on Homecoming. McKendree improves to 4-3 on the year and 4-2 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.

 

“I think playing in front of the 1996 team was really positive on this team,” said McKendree head football coach Carl Poelker. “That team lost its first four games and won its first game on Homecoming. They were able to talk to (the 2006 team) about adversity, overcoming tough times. That was a group that never quit, and you can see those kinds of qualities in this year’s team.”

 

McKendree piled up 410 yards of total offense in the game, including a season-high 156 through the air. After William Penn (3-5, 3-3 MSFA Midwest) tied the game early in the second quarter on a two-yard run by James Jackson, the Bearcats scored the final 35 points of the contest. Senior running back Dominique Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) had a pair of second-half touchdowns for McKendree on runs of seven and 12 yards.

 

The Bearcats took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in just seven plays. Junior running back Uhlon Rich (Swansea, Ill./Belleville West) (Swansea, Ill./Belleville West) capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, and freshman kicker Kevin Kinsall (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) added the extra point to put McKendree in front 7-0. The Bearcats held the lead for nearly a quarter, until Jackson’s run accounted for the Statesmen’s only points of the day.

 

With just 2:27 left before halftime, junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) put McKendree in front to stay with a one-yard scoring burst. Kinsall’s point after extended the margin to 14-7.

 

McKendree capitalized forced a turnover on the second play of the third quarter when junior linebacker Derrick Summerlin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) forced a William Penn fumble, and senior defensive lineman Tim Fahrenhorst (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) recovered the loose ball at the Statesmen 32-yard line. The Bearcats cashed in when Jones posted his seven-yard TD run to boost the lead to 21-7. McKendree increased the margin to 28-7 on its next possession thanks to a 26-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Dan Loudenslager (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) to senior wide receiver Matt Lauber (O'Fallon, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (O’Fallon, Ill./Althoff Catholic).

 

Jones added his 12-yard scoring run on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Loudenslager connected with freshman wide receiver Cedrick Graham (McLeansboro, Ill./Hamilton County) (McLeansboro, Ill./Hamilton County) on a 21-yard touchdown pass for the final points of the day.

 

“We really came out fired up in the second half,” said Poelker. “I think a little bit of the St. Ambrose game (a 28-21 loss in the final seconds) was lingering. We made some adjustments in the second half and really came out ready to play. The seniors got this group going.”

 

Loudenslager completed 11-of-17 passes for 156 yards. His favorite target was Lauber, who had three receptions for 51 yards. Six different receivers had at least one reception.

 

“He is getting better and better with each game,” said Poelker of Loudenslager. “He’s putting the ball where it needs to be. He had a very good day, and was strong on a couple of others, otherwise his numbers would have been even better.”

 

Smith rushed for a team-high 93 yards on 13 carries, while Jones finished with 55 yards on 11 attempts. Sophomore running back Jacob Rohman (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) chipped in with 52 yards on 11 rushes.

 

Defensively, senior safety Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) collected a team-high nine tackles for McKendree, including seven solos. Sophomore linebacker Steve Moravec (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) chipped in with seven stops.

 

Jackson led all rushers with 104 yards on 28 attempts for William Penn. Quarterback Ryan Van Dalen was 11-for-23 for 76 yards on the day, and was sacked three times by McKendree.

 

McKendree will be on the road next Saturday for its final road game of the 2006 season. The Bearcats will be at Quincy University for a 1 p.m. MSFA Midwest League contest.