(JOLIET, Ill., Oct. 9)—The McKendree University football team could not hold off a fourth-quarter rally by the University of St. Francis as the host Fighting Saints registered a 28-24 victory on Saturday in Joliet, Ill.

A 21-yard touchdown pass by E.J. White to Deonta Stevens with just 13.4 seconds remaining gave St. Francis its first win ever against McKendree in 12 meetings. McKendree, the No. 12 team in the NAIA, slipped to 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in Mid-States Football Association-Midwest League play. The Bearcats had their 12-game MSFA Midwest League winning streak – that dated back to 2008 – snapped with the loss.

“We knew coming in that they were a really good football team,” said McKendree football coach Carl Poelker. “Their quarterback (White) really made some plays in that fourth quarter, and that last pass was just in a perfect spot. That's the same way they did it last week.”

St. Francis, which trailed McKendree 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter, faced a 24-7 deficit heading into the final 15 minutes of play last week at Saint Ambrose University. The Fighting Saints scored three touchdowns for a 27-24 victory in Davenport, Iowa.

 McKendree lost despite having two 100-yard rushers in the contest. Senior fullback Joe Beimfohr (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) led all rushers with 121 yards on 11 carries, including scoring runs of 20 and 68 yards. Senior running back Jimmy Berezik (Fraser, Mich./De La Salle) (Fraser, Mich./De La Salle) gained 101 yards on 13 attempts. Berezik's 75-yard touchdown burst on the first play from scrimmage gave McKendree an early 7-0 lead.

St. Francis (3-3, 3-1 MSFA Midwest) responded on its initial drive of the game when White threw the first of his three TD passes on the day, a 17-yard connection with Sean Hughes. Beimfohr gave McKendree a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter when he finished off a six-play, 72-yard drive with his 20-yard scoring run.

The Bearcats extended their lead to 21-7 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter when Beimfohr was hit at the line of scrimmage, bounced off a tackle and split the defense for a 68-yard touchdown run.

From there, St. Francis took control. Garen Demery started the comeback with a two-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 21-14. Senior kicker Jordan Fark (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) pushed the Bearcats' lead to 24-14 with a 40-yard field goal with 8:01 remaining.

The Fighting Saints needed just over a minute to pull within 24-21 as White hooked up with Anthony Hubert on a 35-yard scoring strike. After holding McKendree on its next drive, St. Francis appeared to be heading for a potential go-ahead score. White burst through the Bearcats' defense and scampered down to the McKendree 31-yard line when he was stripped of the football by senior defensive back Ryan Smith (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia), who recovered the ball for McKendree with 4:18 remaining.

However, the Bearcats' drive stalled and St. Francis took over after a punt with 3:40 on the clock. White drove the Fighting Saints 11 plays and 58 yards, hitting Stevens in the end zone near the left sideline for the game-winning score.

“(White) was steady in that drive,” said Poelker. “He didn't let the turnover on the previous possession phase him. He made a big-time throw in a key situation.”

White completed 28-of-41 passes for St. Francis for 264 yards. Hughes was his favorite target, catching seven passes for 80 yards.

Junior linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) paced the McKendree defense with 13 tackles, while Smith and junior linebacker Jason Rejfek (Arlington Heights, IL/John Hersey) (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) each chipped in with 11 stops.

McKendree will return to MSFA Midwest League play next Saturday at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.