(URBANA, Ohio, Sept. 23)—The McKendree College football team nearly overcame an 18-point deficit in a 24-19 loss Saturday at Urbana University. The loss sends the Bearcats, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, to 1-2 overall. Urbana improves to 3-1 on the year.

 

“Urbana showed how athletic they are today,” said McKendree head coach Carl Poelker. “When you looked at them, you could see that eye of the tiger look. They came out determined and ready to play. Their speed matched up well with ours. This is a team that should not be taken lightly.”

 

McKendree trailed 24-6 following a three-yard touchdown run by Urbana’s Luther Henderson with 13:44 remaining. The Bearcats began their comeback bid on its ensuing drive when freshman quarterback Dan Loudenslager (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper on a fourth-and-goal play. The Bearcats’ two-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 24-12.

 

With just over four minutes to play, the McKendree defense held and forced a Blue Knight punt. After taking possession at the Blue Knights’ 40-yard line, the Bearcats needed just two plays to cut the deficit to just five points. Loudenslager hit senior running back Dominique Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) with a 35-yard pass down to the Urbana five-yard line, and Jones followed with a five-yard scoring run.

 

The Bearcats got the ball back one more time and drove to the Blue Knights’ 38-yard line, but Urbana held McKendree in check on the final three plays to preserve the victory.

 

The contest was scoreless until the final minute of the first half, when Urbana quarterback Ryan Gehlert connected with Barry Quinn on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 33.3 seconds left in the second quarter. Alan Hess’ extra point gave the Blue Knights a 7-0 lead at the intermission. Urbana stretched the margin to 14-0 early in the second half when Gehlert hit Marc Burr in stride on an 18-yard scoring strike.

 

“We didn’t capitalize on some early opportunities,” said Poelker. “We were in scoring position twice in the first quarter, and didn’t come away with any points. When you have chances you need to put points on the board. Urbana’s score late in the half was important because it built momentum for them and it rolled over into the second half.

 

McKendree scored its first points of the day on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Loudenslager to senior wide receiver Matt Lauber (O'Fallon, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (O’Fallon, Ill./Althoff Catholic) with 6:14 left in the third quarter. The pass came on a fourth-down play, and Lauber the defender at the sideline to haul in the pass.

 

Loudenslager completed 7-of-19 pass attempts for 148 yards. His favorite target was senior wide receiver JaRon Dent (East St. Louis, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (East St. Louis, Ill./Cahokia), who caught three passes for 71 yards. Jones had to catches for 42 yards. Junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) had a team-high 76 yards rushing on 13 attempts for McKendree.

 

Gehlert was 16-of-30 for 209 yards for Urbana. Quinn caught seven passes for 67 yards, while Kirk Hannah rushed for a game-high 112 yards on 15 attempts.

 

McKendree will be in Joliet, Ill., next Saturday for a Mid-States Football Association Midwest League game against the University of St. Francis. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.