GAME NOTES
(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 5)--The McKendree University football team shoots for its second straight GLVC victory on Saturday when the Bearcats play host to William Jewell College. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Leemon Field.
Saturday's contest will mark Homecoming at McKendree, and the Bearcats will aim to keep its record unblemished in Homecoming games since the program was revived back in 1996. McKendree is 16-0 in Homecoming games during that span, including last year's 24-9 victory over Trinity International University.
Last Saturday, McKendree broke into the win column with an impressive 41-17 win at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Bearcats' defense registered nine quarterback sacks and also recorded two touchdowns, both of which came in the third quarter.
Cameron Ford (Danville, IL/Danville) and
Michael Romshek (Gibson City, IL/Gibson City-Melvin Sibley) each had fumble returns for a score against the Panthers to help stretch a 21-10 halftime lead. As a team, McKendree rushed for a season-high 255 yards, led by a 71-yard effort from
Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville). In addition to his 71 yards on the ground, James caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from
Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington), who was making his first collegiate start. Fisher went 6-of-8 for 97 yards in the effort.
Jacob Wagner (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) also rushed for a pair of three-yard TD scores in the first half.
The win marked McKendree's first triumph in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. The Bearcats will bring a 1-4 overall record and 1-2 GLVC mark into Saturday's contest.
William Jewell is 2-3 on the year and 1-1 in the GLVC after last Saturday's 23-21 home loss to Central State University. Quarterback Sean Shelton competed 23-of-34 pass attempts for 264 yards with two touchdowns against the Crusaders. His favorite target was Jon Molzen, who had a game-high 13 receptions for 188 yards.
Saturday's game will mark the first meeting on the gridiron between McKendree and William Jewell. This will also be the Bearcats' lone home game in the month of October. McKendree will be on the road for the next two weeks -- at Quincy University on Oct. 13 and at Urbana University on Oct. 20 -- before the lone open date on the schedule Oct. 27.
