BOX SCORE

(ARKADELPHIA, Ark., Nov. 5)—The McKendree University football team nearly overcame a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but fell on the road at Henderson State University on Saturday, 16-10.
 
The Bearcats had the football in the closing moments with a chance to the tie the game. But a fourth-down play was snuffed out by the host Reddies to preserve the victory. McKendree slips to 1-7 on the year, while NCAA Division II Henderson State moves to 5-4 overall.
 
“Our guys battled to the last play today,” said McKendree football coach Carl Poelker. “That was great to see. Henderson State jumped out to a fast start and we got back on our heels a little bit. But once we settled in we were a completely different team. We responded to adversity, and that was a great thing to see.”
 
Two McKendree players etched their names into the McKendree record books during the contest. Senior linebacker Brandon Nigro (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) finished the day with a game-high 14 tackles to become the Bearcats' career tackles leader. Nigro now has 281 career tackles, surpassing the previous mark of 277 originally set by Mike Garavalia, who played at McKendree from 1996-99.
 
In addition, senior wide receiver Myron Hicks (Sauk Village, IL/Bloom Trail) (Sauk Village, Ill./Bloom Trail) had 35 receiving yards to take over the top spot on the Bearcats' career list. Hicks now has 1,207 receiving yards at McKendree, eclipsing the old mark of 1,196 yards set by Brett Gross, who also played for the Bearcats from 1996-99.
 
Junior quarterback David Bergschneider (Pleasant Plains, IL/Pleasant Plains) (Pleasant Plains, Ill./Pleasant Plains) led the Bearcats' comeback bid in a relief role. Bergschneider, who entered the game early in the second quarter, completed 13-of-30 pass attempts for 136 yards. He also led McKendree in rushing with 34 yards on 12 carries.
 
“David provided a spark today,” said Poelker. “He showed he can run the ball today, and he made some big throws during the second half. I thought he was going to complete that pass at the end (which was intercepted by the Reddies' Wesley Brady).”
 
Henderson State scored the only points of the first half on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Kevin Rodgers to Jazz Scott late in the first quarter and on a 34-yard field goal by Eric Torres with just 1:16 left until intermission. The Reddies extended their margin to 16-0 when Turell Williams scored from four yards out in the later stages of the third quarter. The extra point was pulled wide to the left.
 
McKendree took the ensuing kickoff and marked 60 yards in 12 plays. Senior running back Chris Montgomery (Avondale, AZ/Mascoutah) (Avondale, Ariz./Mascoutah) capped the drive when he scored from a yard out on the second play of the fourth quarter. Junior Josh Pruitt (Orlando, FL/Boone) (Orlando, Fla./Boone) added the extra point to help the Bearcats cut the deficit to 16-7.
 
On their next possession, the Bearcats put together an 18-play drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock. Pruitt booted a 25-yard field goal with 4:36 remaining to bring McKendree within 16-10. After allowing Henderson State to pick up a quick first down on its next drive, the McKendree defense stopped the Reddies on a crucial third-down play with 2:31 left. The Bearcats got the ball back following a punt at their own 14-yard line.
 
Facing a fourth-and-six at the 18-yard line, Bergschneider completed a pass to senior running back Erik Fohne (Pocahontas, IL/Greenville) (Pocahontas, Ill./Greenville) for seven yards to keep the drive alive. The Bearcats faced another fourth-down play moments later, but Bergschneider's pass sailed over the head of sophomore wide receiver Lonnie Buggs (Chicago, IL/Simeon) (Chicago, Ill./Simeon) and into the hands of Henderson State's Brady at the Reddies' 31-yard line with 1:05 remaining.
 
Nigro set his new career tackles record by stopping Henderson State's Kevin Nichols on a rushing play late in the third quarter. Now with 94 tackles on the season, Nigro is within striking distance of the Bearcats' season record of 98 tackles, which was set by the late Cory Wilson in 2003.
 
“Brandon is a very special player,” said Poelker. “We have had some great linebackers in our program, but he may be the best. He has a knack for finding the football and making plays. And when he hits you, you'll know it. It's a shame that he cannot make All-Conference or All-America this year, because he is truly deserving of the honor.
 
Senior linebacker Josh Atwood (Chatham, IL/Glenwood) (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) collected nine tackles for McKendree, while sophomore defensive back Josh Hall (Gardner, IL/Dwight) (Gardner, Ill./Dwight) chipped in with eight stops. Senior linebacker Jason Rejfek (Arlington Heights, IL/John Hersey) (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) finished the day with seven tackles for the Bearcats.
 
Hicks broke the receiving yardage record with his second grab of the game, a 11-yard reception on a slant on the Bearcats' final drive of the first half. Hicks finished the game with two catches for 35 yards. Fohne and freshman wide receiver Pat Doty (Springfield, IL/Springfield) (Springfield, Ill./Springfield) each had a team-high four receptions for McKendree. Doty had a team-best 59 receiving yards. Freshman Chase Alford (Pontiac, IL/Pontiac) (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) was right behind Bergschneider in the rushing department with 33 yards on nine carries.
 
McKendree will lead to Bourbonnais, Ill., next Saturday (Nov. 12) for its final road game of the 2011 season against Olivet Nazarene University. Kickoff is set for noon at Ward Field.