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(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 9)--There will be plenty of emotion involved in Saturday's season finale for the McKendree University football team against Saint Joseph's College. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Leemon Field.

The majority of that emotion will come after the contest, when 16 seniors will be honored in the annual Senior Day Celebration. It will also come as McKendree football coach Carl Poelker closes out his 17-year run as the helm of the McKendree program. Poelker announced back on Oct. 22 that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

This McKendree senior class was involved in the Bearcats' last two post-season appearances, which came as members of the NAIA. They were also involved in Poelker's 200th career victory, which came in a 38-14 win at McPherson College in the first round of the 2010 NAIA Football Championship Series.

Poelker has coached the Bearcats to a 117-60 record during his time at McKendree. Adding his 14 years and 88 wins as the head coach at Millikin University, Poelker has amassed a career coaching record of 205-99-1 over a 31-year span. He is the all-time wins leader at both McKendree and Millikin.

The Bearcats bring a 3-6 overall record into Saturday's contest with Saint Joseph's. McKendree has a chance to wrap up its first season of competition in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a .500 record as they sit 3-4 in league play. Saint Joseph's is currently 5-5 on the year. The Pumas are a game in front of the Bearcats in the GLVC standings at 4-3.

This will mark the first meeting on the football field between McKendree and Saint Joseph's.