(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 25)—The McKendree University football team had its two-game winning streak snapped with a 17-14 loss Saturday at home against William Penn University.
Lincoln Cavanagh scored on a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter to give William Penn its first win in eight all-time meetings against McKendree. There were a combined nine fumbles in the contest, including seven by McKendree, five of which were lost by the Bearcats.
McKendree drops to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Mid-States Football Association Midwest League action. The Bearcats will play their final road game of the 2008 season next Saturday (Nov. 1) at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
After a scoreless first quarter, senior running back Steve Moravec (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) gave McKendree a 7-0 lead just over four minutes into the second period. Moravec capped an 11-play, 88-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run, and junior kicker Kevin Kinsall (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) added the extra point. William Penn (5-3, 3-1 MSFA Midwest) countered on its next possession with one-yard quarterback sneak by Ryan Van Dalen to even the game at 7-7.
Senior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) helped McKendree regain a 14-7 lead with a five-yard touchdown run with 5:27 left until halftime.
William Penn took the second-half kickoff and drove to the Bearcats' four-yard line. William Brasel kicked a 21-yard field goal to bring the Statesmen within 14-10. Cavanagh, who rushed for a game-high 133 yards on 24 carries, posted his game-winning score at the end of a 91-yard drive that took nine plays for William Penn. Van Dalen also topped the century mark for the Statesmen with 102 yards on 22 rushes.
Moravec led McKendree with 86 yards on 15 carries, while Smith added 75 yards on 15 attempts. Sophomore running back Marlone Chenault (Bellwood, Ill./Proviso East) (Maywood, Ill./Proviso East) chipped in with 61 yards on eight rushes. Freshman quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington) completed 4-of-6 passes for 39 yards. Sophomore tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) had two receptions for 28 yards.
Senior linebacker Reece McCall (Weirsdale, Fla./Lake Weir) (Weirsdale, Fla./Lake Weir) registered a game-high 13 tackles along with a fumble recovery to lead McKendree. Freshman linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) added nine tackles, including eight solos.
-McK-
