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(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 4)--The McKendree University football team gets back to action -- and to Leemon Field -- when the Bearcats play host to the University of Findlay Saturday afternoon in a non-conference battle. Kickofff is set for 1:30 p.m.
McKendree enjoyed its lone open date on the 2013 schedule last week after kicking off Great Lakes Valley Conference play back on Sept. 21 with a 29-24 victory at William Jewell College. The Bearcats sprinted to a 20-0 lead, then had to rally midway through the fourth quarter to collect the win. Quarterback
Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to running back
Jeruel Taylor (University Park, IL/Marian Catholic) with 7:11 to play to account for the winning score. The Bearcats' defense also came up big in the final period, registering three of their four sacks in the quarter, including two by defensive end
Brett Pearman (Granite City, IL/Granite City). It was Pearman's sack of William Jewell quarterback Sean Shelton with 1:18 to play that resulted in a safety to seal the win.
Fisher completed 17-of-22 pass attempts for 218 yards with two touchdowns. Running back
Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) notched his first 100-yard game of the season, gaining 101 yards on the ground with a pair of scores. Linebacker
Alec Gerdes (Normal, IL/Normal) posted a game-high 12 tackles and earned GLVC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his effort.
The Bearcats bring a 2-1 overall record into Saturday's contest, which will be the team's first home game since the Sept. 4 season opener, a 32-28 win over Tiffin University. Findlay comes to Lebanon with a 2-2 overall record, while the Oilers are 1-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Findlay rolled to a 40-19 conference win last Saturday at home against Michigan Tech.
Quarterback Verlon Reed had a big day in the win for Findlay, passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 156 yards and two more scores. Reed was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week. Daiquone Ford added 145 yards on the ground with another touchdown for the Oilers.
McKendree and Findlay will be meeting for the first time on the gridiron.
Saturday's game will mark the first of a two-game home stand for McKendree. The Bearcats will jump back into GLVC play next Saturday by hosting the University of Indianapolis.
