(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 15)—Senior running back George Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) made a little McKendree University football history on Saturday as the Bearcats closed out their 2008 season with a 48-3 victory at home against Iowa Wesleyan College.
Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail), who rushed for a game-high 118 yards on 13 carries, scored three touchdowns on the day. Smith finished his career with 28 rushing touchdowns at McKendree, one more than Jarrod Karnes, who collected 27 TD's on the ground during his Bearcat career from 1996-2000. In his final two games against Iowa Wesleyan, Smith gained 324 yards and scored seven touchdowns. In his four years at McKendree, Smith rushed for 2,378 yards, which is second on the Bearcats' career list.
“He's been one of most consistent players we have had in our program over a four-year period,” said McKendree head coach Carl Poelker. He may not be most athletic player on the field, but he runs with heart. All of that extra yardage he gets after contact shows his determination out there. We're happy he was able to out his career in a special way.”
With the win, McKendree finished the year with three consecutive victories and closed with an overall record of 6-4. The Bearcats have now posted 12 consecutive winning seasons, dating back to 1997. McKendree was 5-2 in Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.
They were playing and having fun out there today,” said Poelker of his team. “They were excited for each other, especially the seniors. I think that over the last three weeks, we got back to basics and started playing McKendree football.”
After Iowa Wesleyan (3-8, 1-6 MSFA Midwest) opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal by Scott Knipfer late in the first quarter, McKendree reeled off the final 48 points of the contest. Smith started the scoring with a 53-yard touchdown run with 1:09 left in the opening period. The Bearcats missed the point after attempt.
McKendree opened up a 27-3 lead by halftime with three scores in the second quarter. Sophomore tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington) on the second play of the second quarter for a 13-3 lead. Junior fullback Joe Beimfohr (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) made it 20-3 with a two-yard touchdown burst.
Then, with just 39 seconds remaining until halftime, senior running back Steve Moravec (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) found the end zone from two yards out to cap a five-play, 54-yard drive that took just 50 seconds. Fisher was 4-for-4 for 43 yards on the drive and added a nine-yard scramble.
After freshman wide receiver Robby Mosher (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) returned a punt 58 yards to the Iowa Wesleyan one-yard line, Smith tied Karnes' record with a one-yard scoring run early in the third quarter for a 34-3 McKendree lead. Moravec scored from seven yards out on the Bearcats' next possession to push the lead to 41-3.
Smith surpassed the McKendree touchdown record with 12:57 to play as he closed out the scoring with a two-yard burst.
Moravec added 75 yards rushing as the Bearcats gained posted 278 yards on the ground against the Tigers. Thirteen different players had at least one rushing attempt for McKendree. Fisher completed 5-of-7 pass attempts for 66 yards. Gettis had a team-high three receptions for 34 yards.
The McKendree defense, which had seven takeaways a week ago against Olivet Nazarene, forced four more turnovers versus Iowa Wesleyan. Junior defensive back Antonio Greer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) had a team-high nine tackles along with an interception and fumble recovery. Senior linebacker Reece McCall (Weirsdale, Fla./Lake Weir) (Weirsdale, Fla./Lake Weir) added seven tackles.
-McK-
