Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 5)—The McKendree University football team got off to a fast start Saturday in its home contest against the University of Findlay, but the potent offensive attack helped lift the visiting Oilers past the Bearcats, 38-21. The game was played before a Homecoming crowd of 1,163 at Leemon Field.

Junior running back Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) gained a team-high 104 yards on the ground, including a 76-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game, to lead the way for McKendree. It was Herring's second straight 100-yard effort after posting 101 yards two weeks ago at William Jewell College. The Bearcats slip to 2-2 overall and will return to Great Lakes Valley Conference action next Saturday (Oct. 12) at home against the University of Indianapolis. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Findlay (3-2) piled up 621 yards of total offense versus the Bearcats, which included 335 passing yards and 286 on the ground. Running back Daiquone Ford registered a game-high 229 rushing yards with three touchdowns to pace Findlay. Quarterback Verlon Reed completed 24-of-36 pass attempts in the win for the Oilers.

"With (Ford), and (Reed), plus that offensive line, that a tough combination to beat," said McKendree head coach Mike Babcock. "Our guys have to understand that they have to get off the ball, make tackles and make plays if they are going to be successful. But our hat's off to Findlay. That's a tough offense to go against."

McKendree started its first drive of the day at its own 15-yard line. After sophomore quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) connected with junior wide receiver on a nine-yard pass to the 24, Herring took a handoff, swept around the right end and raced down the sidelines 76 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest run in Herring's career at McKendree, and the third-longest rushing play in Bearcats' history. Freshman kicker Steven O'Block (Libertyville, IL/Carmel Catholic) tacked on the extra point to give McKendree a 7-0 lead just 33 seconds into the contest.

Findlay answered with a seven-play, 77-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:19 left in the opening period. Ford capped the drive with a 21-yard scoring run up the middle. Ford then scored from a yard out with just over a minute left in the first quarter to give the Oilers a 14-7 advantage.

With Findlay holding a 14-point lead early in the middle stages of the second quarter, McKendree battled back. The Bearcats used a 10-play, 51-yard drive to pull within 21-14. Fisher and Gatti hooked up on an 18-yard connection on a third-and-18 play down to the Oilers' 25-yard line to keep the drive, and sophomore running back Jeruel Taylor (University Park, IL/Marian Catholic) finished it off with a four-yard touchdown run with 4:32 left until halftime.

After Findlay returned the second-half kickoff to the Bearcats' 19-yard line, the McKendree defense were able to hold the Oilers off the scoreboard, forcing incomplete passes on third and fourth downs to end the drive. Findlay, however, put up the only points of the third quarter on a field goal to push its lead to 24-14. The Oilers scored on their first two possession of the fourth quarter to build a 38-14 advantage.

The Bearcats put the final points on the scoreboard in the closing minute as Fisher threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Gatti with just over 40 seconds to play.

Fisher completed 22-of-33 passes for 136 yards. Gatti had a team-high seven receptions for 62 yards, while sophomore wide receiver Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) grabbed five passes for 32 yards.

Junior linebacker Harrison Skokos (Bradenton, FL/Lakewood Ranch) collected a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solos, to lead the Bearcats' defense. Junior linebacker Bryce Colvin (East Peoria, IL/East Peoria), sophomore defensive back Jackson Carver (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) and sophomore linebacker Alec Gerdes (Normal, IL/Normal) each chipped in with nine tackles in the effort.