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(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 20)--McKendree University and William Jewell College will have the stage to themselves when the two teams meet on Saturday in Liberty, Mo., to open the Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule for 2013.

The Bearcats and Cardinals are the only GLVC game on the slate when the second season of league play gets underway Saturday at 6 p.m. Both teams enter the match-up with 1-1 records. McKendree dropped its first road contest of the year last Saturday in a 75-14 loss at Henderson State University, the No. 9-ranked team in NCAA Division II. William Jewell is coming off its first victory of the season, a 36-34 road triumph at NCAA FCS member Valparaiso University.

Last season marked the first meeting on the gridiron between the two programs. McKendree used a big second-half rally to post a 35-20 Homecoming win at Leemon Field. Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) rushed for three touchdowns in the contest -- all of which came in the second half -- to lead the charge for the Bearcats. Sherrod Stancil (Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley) had a season-high 10 tackles including three quarterback sacks in the win. The McKendree defense also forced three William Jewell turnovers in last year's outing.

McKendree has been bolstered by a strong special teams effort through the first two games of 2013. As a team, the Bearcats lead the conference in punt returns (40.7 YPR) and is second in kickoff returns (29.2 YPR). McKendree has already recorded three special teams touchdowns in the young season. James and Ryan Keen (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) have each returned a kickoff for a score, and Branden Walker (St. Louis, MO/University City) has added a 68-yard punt return for a TD. Punter Alex McMahon (Westville, IL/Westville) currently sits fourth in the GLVC in punting, averaging 39.3 yards per effort.

William Jewell uses a balanced offensive attack, averaging just over 203 yards per game on the ground and 143.5 yards per game in the passing department. Quarterback Sean Shelton has helped pace the Cardinals' offensive unit, throwing for 287 yards while adding 141 rushing yards. Thomas Cook leads William Jewell with 12 pass receptions, and Thomas Cook, Jr., serves as the Cardinals' deep threat with a 20.2 yard average on just six catches.

Jack Bissonnett shows the way on defense for William Jewell with 22 tackles, while Jimmy DeStefano is right behind with 21 stops, including 12 tackles in the Valparaiso win.

McKendree will have an open date following the trip to William Jewell before hosting the University of Findlay on Oct. 5. The Findlay game will mark Homecoming for the Bearcats, who will look to keep their perfect 17-0 record intact in front of the alumni.