(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 13)—The McKendree University football team earned its seventh Mid-States Football Association-Midwest League championship with a 20-17 victory Saturday at home against Grand View University in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Senior tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington) with 8:01 to play to complete the Bearcats' second comeback of the day and give McKendree the win. The Bearcats, ranked No. 12 in the NAIA, have won seven of their last eight games to move to 8-2 on the season.
McKendree closed out MSFA Midwest League play with a 6-1 mark. The Bearcats finished tied atop the conference standings with William Penn University, who completed their regular-season schedule with a 24-7 home win on Saturday versus the University of St. Francis (Ill.). Thanks to the Bearcats' 24-14 victory over William Penn on Oct. 23 in Lebanon, McKendree earns the MSFA Midwest automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series. First-round pairings will be announced Sunday afternoon by the NAIA national office.
McKendree will be making its ninth trip in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Bearcats have one final four appearance to their credit, which came back in 2002.
“This was about a team that did not give up today,” said McKendree head coach Carl Poelker, who earned his 199th career victory on Saturday. “We got down early, but we kept battling and stayed focused on what we needed to do. This is a great win for our seniors. It was their day today and this is the way you want to play your last home game.”
Fisher finished the day by completing 16-of-24 pass attempts for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Fisher, who has seven scoring strikes in the last two games, now has 16 touchdown passes on the year. He broke his own team record of 15 set last year.
After Grand View took a 10-0 first-quarter lead, Fisher got the Bearcats on the scoreboard when he connected with senior running back Jimmy Berezik (Fraser, Mich./De La Salle) (Fraser, Mich./De La Salle) on a 36-yard scoring strike midway through the second quarter. The Vikings blocked the extra point to leave the score at 10-6.
McKendree took its first lead of the day on its first possession of the second half. Fisher capped the 12-play, 69-yard drive when he connected with junior wide receiver Myron Hicks (Sauk Village, IL/Bloom Trail) (Sauk Village, Ill./Bloom Trail) on a seven-yard in the right corner of the end zone Senior kicker Jordan Fark (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) added the extra point to give the Bearcats a 13-10 advantage.
Grand View (6-4, 4-3 MSFA Midwest) capitalized on a McKendree turnover early in the fourth quarter to regain a 17-13 lead. Fisher was scrambling to avoid a sack and tried to lateral the ball to his left. He overthrew his target, and the Vikings' Josh Moncivais picked up the loose ball and rambled 52 yards for a score.
The Bearcats then took the ensuing kickoff and embarked on its game-winning drive. McKendree converted two third downs on the drive before Berezik picked up three yards on a fourth-and-two play just ahead of Gettis' touchdown reception.
On its next possession, Grand View drove deep into McKendree territory, but missed a 34-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the contest. The Vikings had two more possessions in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats' defense would not allow Grand View past midfield.
Berezik led the Bearcats' rushing attack with 67 yards on 15 attempts. Hicks caught a season-high seven passes for 54 yards. Fisher hit six different receivers in the victory.
Junior linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) led the McKendree defense with eight tackles, including two for loss. Senior defensive backs Jon Malandrucco (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail) and Ryan Smith (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) Ryan Smith (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) each chipped in with six tackles. Malandrucco also had an interception for the Bearcats.
