(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 31)—The McKendree University football team wrapped up the home portion of its 2009 schedule with a 38-0 Senior Day victory Saturday at home against Quincy University.
Senior running back Joe Beimfohr (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) rushed for a game-high 105 yards and became the 15th player to rush for 1,000 career yards as McKendree won its eighth consecutive game. McKendree, the No. 11-ranked team in the NAIA, improves to 8-1 overall and maintains its leads in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League standings at 6-0.
As a team, the Bearcats gained 484 yards of total offense against Quincy, marking the fifth time in 2009 that they have passed the 400-yard mark in a contest. Fifteen different McKendree players combined to rush for 336 yards on the day.
“We were able to build a lead early and that helped us to play with confidence on both sides of the ball,” said McKendree head football coach Carl Poelker. “It was a good all-around team effort, the kind you want to see on Senior Day.”
The Bearcats' defense also played a big role in Saturday's victory. McKendree limited Quincy to 158 yards of total offense, including just 34 yards on the ground. The Bearcats also registered four quarterback sacks against the Hawks.
McKendree scored on four of its first five possessions in building a 24-0 halftime lead. Junior tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) opened up the scoring on the Bearcats' third play of the game when he caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington). Senior Jordan Fark (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) booted the point after to give McKendree a quick 7-0 lead.
Junior running back Tommy Gayfield (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville) (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville) then added scoring runs of nine and 20 yards as the Bearcats extended their lead to 21-0 late in the first quarter. Fark provided the only points of the second quarter with a 25-yard field goal midway through the period.
On the Bearcats' first possession of the second half, Fisher and Gettis hooked up for their second TD pass of the day. Facing third-and-goal at the Hawks' five-yard line, Fisher hit Gettis on a crossing pattern for a five-yard scoring strike to push the lead to 31-0.
A 25-yard punt return by sophomore wide receiver Robby Mosher (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) to the Quincy 25-yard line helped set up the Bearcats' final score of the contest. Sophomore running back Richard Bailey (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) Richard Bailey (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) took a handoff and raced down the left sideline for a 20-yard touchdown run.
Beimfohr gained his 105 yards on nine attempts. He crossed the 1,000-yard mark for his career on a 43-yard run late in the second quarter. Beimfohr has now rushed for 1,042 yards at McKendree. Junior running back Marlone Chenault (Bellwood, Ill./Proviso East) (Maywood, Ill./Proviso East) added 61 yards on just five carries for McKendree, while Gayfield finished with 53 yards on six rushes.
Fisher completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 140 yards. Sophomore quarterback David Bergschneider (Pleasant Plains, IL/Pleasant Plains) (Pleasant Plains, Ill./Pleasant Plains) was 2-for-3 for eight yards. Gettis caught four passes for 88 yards on the day.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central), sophomore linebacker Jason Rejfek (Arlington Heights, IL/John Hersey) (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) and junior defensive back Derrick Quals (North Hills, Calif./Chaminade) (North Hills, Calif./Chaminade) each had seven tackles to lead McKendree.
McKendree will have an open date next week before closing out its 2009 regular season Nov. 14 at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. A victory at Grand View will give the Bearcats their first MSFA Midwest League championship since 2005.
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