(BOURBONNAIS, Ill., Nov. 3)—The McKendree University football team nearly overcame a 24-point halftime deficit, but the Bearcats came up just short in a 26-21 loss Saturday afternoon at Olivet Nazarene University.

 

The loss snaps a two-game win streak for McKendree, which falls to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.

 

“I was extremely proud of the way we fought back in the second half,” said McKendree head coach Carl Poelker. “It could have been easy for us to give up, but our players responded with a great effort on both sides of the ball and on special teams.”

 

After trailing 24-0 at the half, McKendree posted two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half to pull within 24-14. The Bearcats eventually cut the margin to 24-21 in the early stages of the fourth quarter before a safety by Olivet Nazarene in the last 63 seconds of play sealed the win for the Tigers.

 

McKendree lost despite giving up just eight yards of total offense to Olivet Nazarene in the second half. Both teams struggled for yards on the afternoon as the Tigers held a 199-186 edge in total offense.

 

Two touchdown passes by Derek Diehl, along with a one-yard touchdown run by Marshall Fraley and a 30-yard field goal by Matt Soulia, paced the Tigers to a 24-0 lead with just under five minutes left in the first half. That score held until the second half, when McKendree began its comeback.

 

After holding Olivet Nazarene without a first down on its first drive of the second half, the Bearcats forced a Tigers’ punt. Freshman wide receiver Zach Atkins (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin, Ill.) (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin) fielded the attempt at the 47-yard line and raced down the left sideline 53 yards for a touchdown. It marked the Bearcats’ first punt return for a score since the 2004 season, when Adam Clapp (Oakland, Ill./Oakland) went 75 yards against the University of St. Francis (Ind.).

 

“Zach is dangerous out in the open,” said Poelker. “He has that kind of breakaway speed that can create havoc for a defense.”

 

On McKendree’s next possession, sophomore quarterback Dan Loudenslager (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) connected with junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) on a 28-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore kicker Kevin Kinsall (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) converted the point after to bring McKendree within 24-14.

 

With 9:06 remaining, Atkins scored his second touchdown of the day, this time on a nine-yard run around left end to help McKendree pull within 24-21.

 

The Bearcats were pinned at their own one-yard line to start their final drive with just under two minutes to play. On the third play of the possession, Loudenslager was sacked in the end zone by the Tigers’ Donte Carr. That ended McKendree’s comeback bid.

 

Loudenslager completed 5-of-13 pass attempts for 77 yards. Senior tight end Jimmy Pennell (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) grabbed two passes for 31 yards. Junior running back Jacob Rohman (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) had a game-high 88 yards on 22 rushes to lead the Bearcats.

 

Making his first start of the season, sophomore defensive back Donald Petterson (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) led McKendree with nine tackles, including seven solos. Senior defensive lineman Antonio Prendergast (Orlando, Fla./University) (Orlando, Fla./University) added seven tackles for the Bearcats.

 

For Olivet Nazarene, Diehl completed 12-of-25 attempts for 167 yards. His favorite target was Austin Kizzee, who had four catches for 93 yards. Fraley led the Tigers with 41 rushing yards.

     

The win by Olivet Nazarene ended the Tigers’ six-game losing streak to McKendree, which dated back to the 2001 season.

 

McKendree will close out its 2007 regular season next Saturday at Iowa Wesleyan College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.