(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 13)—The McKendree University football team committed a season-high five turnovers in a 23-12 loss Saturday at home to St. Ambrose University.

 

The loss snaps a two-game win streak for the Bearcats, and deals a blow to their NAIA playoff hopes. McKendree, the No. 25 team in the NAIA, slips to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. St. Ambrose, ranked No. 15, moves to 4-2 on the year and remains undefeated at 3-0 in league play.

 

McKendree held a 346-295 edge in total offense in the contest, and held St. Ambrose to just 90 yards in the second half. The Bearcats’ total included 274 yards on the ground for the NAIA’s No. 3-ranked rushing offense. However, the Bearcats lost three fumbles and also threw a pair of interceptions, while the Fighting Bees did not commit a turnover in the game.

 

Junior running back Jacob Rohman (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) posted a game-high 98 yards rushing on 19 carries, while junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) chipped in with 70 yards on 12 attempts for McKendree.

 

The Bearcats took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in 13 plays. Sophomore quarterback Dan Loudenslager (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) capped the drive with a two-yard scoring run on a quarterback sneak. Sophomore kicker Kevin Kinsall (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) added the extra point to give the Bearcats a 7-0 advantage.

 

St. Ambrose answered on its first possession on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jim DuPage to Kyle Korth. The point after was blocked by McKendree senior defensive lineman Antonio Prendergast (Orlando, Fla./University) (Orlando, Fla./University), leaving the Bearcats in front by a 7-6 margin.

 

Early in the second quarter, DuPage was flushed out of the pocket on a third-down play and turned it into a 27-yard touchdown run to give St. Ambrose a 13-7 lead. After a field goal extended the Fighting Bees’ lead to 16-7, McKendree drove down on its final possession of the first half, and a 44-yard field goal by Kinsall helped pull the Bearcats within 16-10 at the intermission. The 44-yarder marked a season-long effort for Kinsall.

 

DuPage threw his second touchdown pass of the day, a 19-yarder to Michael Hayward on fourth down, with two minutes left in the third quarter to give St. Ambrose its largest lead of the day, 23-10. McKendree posted the final points of the afternoon on a safety early in the fourth quarter. Backed up to their own five-yard line, the Fighting Bees were flagged for a holding penalty in the end zone, bringing McKendree within 11 points.

 

The Bearcats tried to rally in the final period, but lost a fumble deep in St. Ambrose territory and had another pass picked off late in the contest.

 

Loudenslager finished 8-of-18 in the passing department for 72 yards. His favorite target was sophomore wide receiver Cedrick Graham (McLeansboro, Ill./Hamilton County) (McLeansboro, Ill./Hamilton County), who had three receptions for 26 yards.

 

Defensively, senior lineman Nathan House (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) led McKendree with nine tackles, including six solos. Prendergast and senior safety Lawrence Davis (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) each chipped in with seven tackles.

 

For St. Ambrose, DuPage completed 21-of-33 pass attempts for 216 yards. Hayward had 11 catches for 71 yards, while Korth grabbed nine passes for a game-high 122 yards. Linebacker Dan Eble recorded a game-high 12 tackles with an interception and fumble recovery to lead the Fighting Bees.

 

McKendree will be on the road next Saturday to face William Penn University. Kickoff for the MSFA Midwest League game in Oskaloosa, Iowa, will be at 1:30 p.m.