(PLATTE CITY, Mo., Aug. 29)—The McKendree University football team was defeated by Ottawa University, 31-21, on Saturday in the College Fanz Sports Network First Down Classic in Platte City, Mo. The contest was the second in a doubleheader hosted by College Fanz at Pirate Stadium.
McKendree nearly overcame a 17-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, but could not hold off the No. 22-ranked Braves in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Bearcats slip to 0-1 overall and will be on the road next Saturday (Sept. 5) for a non-conference game at Olivet Nazarene University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Trailing 24-7 in the first minute of the fourth quarter, McKendree put together a pair of scoring drives in a four-minute span to pull within 24-21. Sophomore quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington) threw his second touchdown pass of the night, a 12-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Nick Lutker (Dupo, IL/Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) to cut the deficit to 24-14. After a McKendree defensive stand, senior fullback Joe Beimfohr (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) capped a five-play, 55-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 6:08 left to help the Bearcats pull within 24-21.
However, Ottawa quarterback Ethan Haller led the Braves on an eight-play, 73-yard drive on the next possession, and hit Corey Schultz with a 21-yard touchdown pass on third-and-long with 2:32 remaining to seal the victory. Haller completed 25-of-38 pass attempts for 437 yards and four touchdowns. Three of the Braves' receivers had at least 100 yards on the night.
“(Haller) reminds me a lot of (former Ohio Dominican University quarterback Cris) Reisert,” said McKendree head football coach Carl Poelker. “And I'm not sure his arm's not stronger than (Reisert). He was big tonight.” Haller was named the game's Outstanding Offensive Player.
Fisher had a big night as well, throwing for 211 yards on 18-of-28 passing. He is just the second quarterback in program history to throw for at least 200 yards in a game. Sophomore wide receiver Myron Hicks (Sauk Village, IL/Bloom Trail) (Sauk Village, Ill./Bloom Trail) had a team-leading five receptions for 56 yards, while junior tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) added four catches for 68 yards.
“When we went to the (shot)gun, Fisher really started to make things happen,” said Poelker. “That was a good sign for us.”
Haller had a pair of long touchdown passes in the first quarter – 53 yards to Clarence Anderson and 62 yards to Taylor Burnett – and Casey Wieder booted a 44-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to give Ottawa a 17-0 advantage. McKendree scored its first points of the season late in the first half when Fisher found junior running back Tommy Gayfield (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville) (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville) in the back of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The score with just 2:32 left until halftime brought the Bearcats back within 17-7.
Junior running back Marlone Chenault (Bellwood, Ill./Proviso East) (Maywood, Ill./Proviso East) led McKendree with 69 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Sophomore linebacker Reggie Cloyd (Danville, IL/Danville) (Danville, Ill./Danville) earned the game's Outstanding Defensive Player award by leading McKendree with 13 tackles, including eight solos. Cloyd also had 5 ½ tackles for loss, two pass break-ups and an interception. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) added eight stops.
-McK-
