Box Score (OWENSBORO, Ky., Sept. 29)—The McKendree University football team rode a balanced running attack and a strong defensive effort to a 41-17 victory Saturday evening at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
 
The Bearcats rushed for a season-high 255 yards, with four different runners gaining at least 40 yards in the win. Defensively, McKendree registered nine quarterback sacks and turned in a pair of scores in posting its first Great Lakes Valley Conference victory. The Bearcats improve to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in GLVC play. Kentucky Wesleyan drops to 1-4 on the year and is 0-3 in the GLVC.
 
“Tonight's effort was a total team effort,” said McKendree head coach Carl Poelker following the win. “The offensive line was really firing off the ball and the defense played with an intensity we haven't seen in a while. That comes from playing 60 minutes of football tonight.”
     
Freshman running back Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) rushed for a team-high 71 yards on just seven carries with a five-yard TD run in a decisive third quarter for McKendree. James also caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington), who was making his first collegiate start against the Panthers. Fisher completed 6-of-8 pass attempts for 97 yards in the outing, hitting four different receivers.
 
Both of McKendree's defensive touchdowns came in the third quarter after the Bearcats held a 21-10 lead at the half. Senior defensive lineman Tim Weidenbacher (Naperville, IL/Naperville North) sacked Kentucky Wesleyan's Will Barnes and forced a fumble in the process. Sophomore defensive lineman Cameron Ford (Danville, IL/Danville) scooped up the loose ball and rambled 18 yards for the score to make it 27-10.
 
After a touchdown by the Panthers and James' scoring run, junior linebacker Javar Murphy (Chicago, IL/Marian Catholic) stripped Devin Le'Gall of the football at the Kentucky Wesleyan 29-yard line. Junior defensive back Michael Romshek (Gibson City, IL/Gibson City-Melvin Sibley) flew in, picked up the fumble and raced in from 32 yards out to give the Bearcats a 41-17 lead late in the third quarter.
 
Junior running back Jacob Wagner (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) scored on a pair of three-yard touchdown runs in the first half to help McKendree build its 11-point halftime lead.
 
Junior defensive end Tim Weidenbacher (Naperville, IL/Naperville North) had three of the Bearcats' eight sacks in the contest. Ford added a pair of sacks in the effort. Romshek led McKendree with six tackles, including five solos.
 
McKendree will return home for a GLVC contest next Saturday (Oct. 6) against William Jewell College. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Leemon Field.