(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Sept. 8)—The McKendree University football team kicked off its 2007 season with a 39-7 victory Saturday in Indianapolis against Marian College.

 

The Bearcats, ranked No. 18 in the NAIA pre-season poll, rushed for 277 yards and four touchdowns while the defensive unit forced four Knights’ turnovers and recorded a safety. McKendree, now 1-0 on the year, will host Urbana University next Saturday in its home opener at Leemon Field.

 

Junior running back Jacob Rohman (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) led the rushing attack with 96 yards on 25 carries, while fellow junior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) added 79 yards on 11 attempts. Rohman and Smith each had first-quarter touchdown runs for the Bearcats, while freshman fullback Chris Fisher (Mokena, Ill./Providence Catholic) (Orland Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) and junior running back Shane McBride (Troy, Ill./Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) each had a score in the second half.

 

Sophomore kicker Kevin Kinsall (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) kicked three field goals in the first half as McKendree built a 23-7 lead at the intermission.

 

“I thought all cylinders were working well today,” said McKendree head coach Carl Poelker. “The defense pursued well, and the offense came out ready to play. It was a good effort for the first game.”

 

The McKendree defense forced a turnover in the opening moments when sophomore defensive back Antonio Greer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) stripped Marian receiver Devin Owens of the football at the Knights’ 32-yard line. Junior linebacker Emanuel McCall (Weirsdale, Fla./Lake Weir) picked up the loose ball and returned it to the 16-yard line. Three plays later, Rohman scored from three yards out to give McKendree a 7-0 lead.

 

Smith added a four-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to extend the margin to 14-0. In the second quarter, Kinsall booted field goals of 38 and 20 yards to give the Bearcats a 20-0 advantage. Midway through the period, Marian (0-2) scored its only points of the afternoon on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Eldrin Jones to John Pfifer. The point after cut the Knights’ deficit to 20-7.

 

Following an interception by Greer with just over a minute remaining in the half, McKendree drove down the field, and Kinsall kicked a 22-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to push the Bearcats’ lead to 23-7 at the intermission.

 

Fisher capped an 11-play, 58-yard drive with a one-yard scoring run late in the third quarter for a 30-7 lead before the Bearcats’ defense recorded its first points of the season. Junior defensive lineman Kevin Lambert (Orlando, Fla,/Boone) (Orlando, Fla./Boone) sacked Marian quarterback Eldrin Jones in the end zone for a safety and a 32-7 lead.

 

McKendree then took the free kick following the safety and marched 68 yards in nine plays for its final points of the day. McBride raced around the left side for a 19-yard scoring run.

 

The Bearcats held Marian to 168 yards of total offense on the day. Of McKendree’s four takeaways, three came on interceptions.

 

Senior linebacker Derrick Summerlin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) led the McKendree defense with eight tackles, while senior defensive lineman Adam Huebner (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) added six stops. Senior defensive lineman Antonio Prendergast (Orlando, Fla./University) (Orlando, Fla./University) contributed four solo tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks.

 

Sophomore quarterback Dan Loudenslager (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) (Summerfield, Fla./Belleview) was 4-of-5 through the air for 90 yards. His favorite target was sophomore wide receiver Cedrick Graham (McLeansboro, Ill./Hamilton County) (McLeansboro, Ill./Hamilton County), who grabbed two passes for 55 yards.