(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 16)—The McKendree College football team tied a program record for largest margin of victory in a 56-0 win Saturday at home against Trinity International University.

 

McKendree, the No. 10 team in the NAIA, piled up 428 yards of total offense while holding Trinity International to just 85 yards on the day. The Bearcats improve to 1-1 overall and in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. Trinity International falls to 1-2 on the year and 0-1 in the MSFA Midwest League.

 

In addition to its holding the Trojans to 85 yards on the day, the Bearcat defense scored a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Junior defensive end Antonio Prendergast (Orlando, Fla./University) (Orlando, Fla./University) recovered a fumble in the end zone following a McKendree sack in the second quarter. Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, senior defensive back Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) picked off a Trinity International and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.

 

McKendree’s 56-point margin of victory equals the team mark set in 2000 during another 56-0 Bearcat victory at Iowa Wesleyan College.

 

Senior running back Dominique Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) scored twice on the day for McKendree. His 20-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter started the scoring for the Bearcats. McKendree then scored three times in the final 6:55 of the second quarter to build a 28-0 lead at the half. First, junior running back Uhlon Rich (Swansea, Ill./Belleville West) (Swansea, Ill./Belleville West) had a three-yard touchdown run with 6:55 left in the period. Just under two minutes later, Prendergast fell on a loose ball in the end zone after a sack by sophomore linebacker Emanuel McCall (Weirsdale, Fla./Lake Weir) to give McKendree a 21-0 lead.

 

Junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) wrapped up the second period scoring frenzy on a four-yard run with just 1:48 left until halftime.

 

The Bearcats extended the margin to 42-0 on an 11-yard run by sophomore running back Jacob Rohman (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) and a six-yard touchdown pass by freshman quarterback Dan Loudenslager (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) to Jones. Senior running back Jay Walton (Newman, Ga./East Coweta) (Newman, Ga./East Coweta) capped the scoring on the day with a 68-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes.

 

Walton led a balanced rushing attack for McKendree with 78 yards on just three attempts. Rohman posted 64 yards on 14 attempts, while Jones had 53 yards on seven carries. Loudenslager completed 8-of-12 passes for 87 yards. Senior wide receiver Matt Lauber (O'Fallon, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (O’Fallon, Ill./Althoff Catholic) had three receptions for 71 yards.

 

Junior linebacker Derrick Summerlin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) paced the Bearcat defense with seven tackles, while McCall and senior linebacker Tim Fahrenhorst (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) each chipped in with four tackles.