(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 17)—There were plenty of milestones to go around Saturday at Leemon Field as the McKendree University football team cruised to a 66-0 Homecoming victory against Waldorf College.
McKendree, ranked No. 12 in the NAIA, won its sixth consecutive game to improve to 6-1 on the year. The Bearcats kept their perfect Mid-States Football Association Midwest League intact at 4-0. McKendree has also won all 14 Homecoming contests at Leemon Field since the football program was revived in 1996.
First, head coach Carl Poelker picked up his 100th career victory at McKendree. Now in his 14th season with the Bearcats, Poelker pushed his McKendree coaching record to 100-42. The win also was the 188th in Poelker's 28-year career, which moved him into sole possession of ninth place on the NAIA all-time victories list. Poelker is now 188-81-1 in his coaching career.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington) became the Bearcats' single-season passing leader during the first quarter of Saturday's win. Fisher completed 3-of-4 pass attempts for 32 yards with a touchdown in limited action. That gives Fisher 950 passing yards in 2009, breaking the old mark of 922 yards, which was set by Brendon Delaney in 2004.
In addition to the individual milestones, McKendree posted the second-highest point total in Leemon Field history. The Bearcats defeated Iowa Wesleyan College 69-0 to end the 2006 season. Saturday's game also marked McKendree's second shutout of the year.
It was a true team effort for McKendree as it piled up 458 yards of total offense, including a season-best 407 yards rushing. There were 17 different players that had at least one rushing attempt for the Bearcats. Defensively, McKendree limited Waldorf (1-5, 0-4 MSFA Midwest) to just 82 yards of total offense. The Bearcats also forced five Warrior turnovers.
McKendree broke from the gates quickly, scoring 35 first-quarter points. The Bearcats scored on four of their first five offensive possessions, and added a defensive score in the final minute of the period. Junior running back Marlone Chenault (Bellwood, Ill./Proviso East) (Maywood, Ill./Proviso East) started things off with a 34-yard touchdown run just 2:43 into the game. Senior kicker Jordan Fark (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) added the point after to give the Bearcats a 7-0 advantage.
After a 16-yard punt return by sophomore Robby Mosher (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) put McKendree at the Waldorf 19-yard line, senior running back Joe Beimfohr (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) broke loose for a 19-yard TD run to extend the margin to 14-0. Later in the period, junior linebacker Jason Rejfek (Arlington Heights, IL/John Hersey) (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) recovered a Waldorf fumble at the Warriors' 19-yard line. The Bearcats scored two plays later on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Fisher to senior wide receiver Nick Fuhler (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) to put McKendree in front 21-0.
The Bearcats then closed out the first quarter with two touchdowns in the final minute of the period. With 41 seconds on the clock, Beimfohr scored for the second time on a six-yard run to give McKendree a 28-0 lead. Waldorf fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, and senior linebacker Heath Bohannon (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) picked up the loose ball and raced 20 yards for a touchdown. Fark's extra point closed out the first-quarter scoring frenzy to give McKendree a 35-0 lead.
Sophomore quarterback David Bergschneider (Pleasant Plains, IL/Pleasant Plains) (Pleasant Plains, Ill./Pleasant Plains) had the Bearcats' only touchdown of the second quarter when he scored on a one-yard plunge. After leading 42-0 at the half, McKendree stretched the margin to 52-0 in the third quarter thanks to a 27-yard field goal by Fark and a 10-yard scoring run by sophomore running back Erik Fohne (Pocahontas, IL/Greenville) (Pocahontas, Ill./Greenville).
McKendree closed out the contest with fourth-quarter touchdowns of 18 yards by junior running back Beau Atwood (Fairmount, IL/Catlin) (Fairmount, Ill./Salt Fork) and 25 yards by junior running back Larry Russell (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley).
Junior tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) led the balanced rushing attack for McKendree with 46 yards on just two carries. Atwood added 43 yards on four carries, while Fohne posted 40 yards on five attempts.
Senior linebacker Tim Ladd (Chillocothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central) (Chillicothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central) led the McKendree defense with eight tackles, including 2 ½ quarterback sacks and 4 ½ tackles for loss. Rejfek, sophomore linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) and freshman linebacker Tim Weidenbacher (Naperville, IL/Naperville North) (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) each chipped in with five tackles.
McKendree will travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, next Saturday (Oct. 24) for a MSFA Midwest League contest at William Penn University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
-McK-
