(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 11)—The McKendree College football team turned in a record-setting performance with its 69-0 season-ending victory Saturday at home against Iowa Wesleyan College.

 

The Bearcats set a new team record for points scored in both a half and a game to help the program recorded its 10^th consecutive winning season. McKendree ends the year with an overall record of 5-4 and a Mid-States Football Association Midwest League mark of 5-3. The Bearcats’ 69 points surpass the old mark of 63 points, set in a 63-10 victory against Taylor University in 2001.

 

“This is a team that didn’t give up all year,” said McKendree football coach Carl Poelker. “They could have easily given up this year, with all the close finishes, and they didn’t. They showed a lot of character to all of us.”

 

McKendree scored on its first nine possessions of the contest, including all seven in the first half as the Bearcats built a 49-0 lead at halftime. McKendree then scored the first two times it had the ball in the second half to increase its margin to 63-0 midway through the third quarter. The Bearcats broke their single-game scoring record with junior running back Jordan Bierman (Wheeler, Ill./Newton) (Wheeler, Ill./Newton) broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run with just 31 seconds left in the game.

 

Nine different players scored for McKendree, including senior running back Mike Cheesman, who posted touchdown runs of 11 and 13 yards in the effort. The Bearcats rushed for 466 yards on the day, with 20 players recording at least one rushing attempt on the day. McKendree also held a 492-71 edge in total offense against the Tigers.

 

Junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) led the way with 106 yards on seven carries, while senior Dominique Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) was right behind with 95 yards on 12 attempts. Jones closed out his McKendree career with 1,344 rushing yards, which is eighth on the team’s all-time list.

 

Senior defensive lineman Tim Fahrenhorst (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) and freshman defensive back Donald Petterson (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) shared team-high honors with five tackles each. Senior defensive back Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) added his ninth career interception for the Bearcats.

 

Ejouboke Atiyota and James Fisher had a busy day for Iowa Wesleyan (1-9, 0-8) with 12 tackles each.