Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 7)—The McKendree University football team opened the Mike Babcock Era with a 32-28 come-from-behind victory over Tiffin University in the Bearcats' 2013 season opener Saturday at Leemon Field.

Babcock, who was hired in December after spending the last five years as an offensive assistant at Colorado State University-Pueblo, watched the Bearcats rally from an 11-point deficit in the first half. McKendree then took its final lead of the game with just over four minutes to play when sophomore quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) connected with junior wide receiver Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita) on a 59-yard touchdown pass.

"I was proud of the guys to battle for all 60 minutes today," said Babcock following the victory. "They didn't give up and got the job done today."

Fisher shattered the McKendree program record for passing yards in a game while also setting a new mark for completions. Fisher went 28-of-43 for 375 yards with two touchdown passes in the come-from-behind effort against Tiffin. Gatti also set new team records by catching 10 passes for 201 yards. Gatti accounted for both TD receptions for the Bearcats.

With his two new team records, Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) passed the marks formerly held by older brother Austin, who had 27 completions and 299 passing yards in the Bearcats' 2011 season opener against Malone University. Gatti surpassed the old receiving marks of eight catches (previously shared by Brett Gross and Pat Doty (Springfield, IL/Springfield)) and 189 yards (set by Brett Gross in 1996).

The McKendree defense had its only two takeaways of the afternoon in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats' Richard White (Indianapolis, IN/Rich East) recovered a muffed punt return by Tiffin early in the period, and then sophomore defensive back Jackson Carver (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) sealed the win for McKendree with an interception at the Bearcats' 22-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.

"The defense really stepped up at the end of the game. We forced some turnovers in the second half and when Jackson came up with (the last interception) that was a great way to end it. I'm really proud of the way the defense came together as the game went on."

McKendree (1-0) struck first thanks to a 27-yard field goal by freshman Steven O'Block (Libertyville, IL/Carmel Catholic) in the later stages of the first quarter. Tiffin (0-1) answered just 47 seconds later when quarterback Joey Frendo threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to Tony Shead, giving the Dragons a 7-3 advantage.

Tiffin extended its lead to 14-3 with just 1:14 to go before halftime. McKendree quickly responded by driving 75 yards in 65 seconds. On the eighth play of the drive, Fisher connected with Gatti on their first TD of the day, a 21-yard strike with nine seconds left before intermission to bring the Bearcats within 14-9.

McKendree needed just 13 seconds into the third quarter to grab its first lead of the day. Junior cornerback Ryan Keen (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) took the second-half kickoff, found a seam and raced 100 yards for a touchdown. Fisher then found junior tight end Reuben Bowlby (Lincoln, IL/Lincoln) in the end zone for a two-point coversion to give McKendree a 17-14 lead. Keen's return matched the school record back in 1997 by Brandon Murphy.

The lead was short-lived as Tiffin scored just 25 seconds later to regain a 21-17 advantage. O'Block booted his second field goal of the day later in the period, an 18-yarder, that trimmed the deficit to 21-20. That score was set up thanks to a 58-yard connection from Fisher to Gatti down to the Dragons' one-yard line.

Tiffin scored in the closing minutes of the third quarter to extend its lead to 28-20 before McKendree took control in the fourth quarter. Sophomore running back Branden Walker (St. Louis, MO/University City) took a punt off the bounce and raced 68 yards for a score to bring the Bearcats within 28-26. McKendree was unsuccessful on a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt.

The Bearcats' game-winning drive consumed just three plays and 76 yards. Fisher connected on all three pass attempts in the drive, including a nine-yard hookup with Gatti just before the game-winning score.

Junior running back Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) led the Bearcats' ground game with 51 yards on 17 attempts. Senior wide receiver Nick Jones (Murphysboro, IL/Murphysboro) caught five passes for 42 yards, while sophomore wide receiver Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) added four receptions for McKendree.

Senior cornerback Tirell Anderson (Decatur, IL/MacArthur) led a balanced defensive effort for the Bearcats with seven tackles, including six solos. Junior linebackers Harrison Skokos (Bradenton, FL/Lakewood Ranch), Drake Schmudlach (Carthage, IL/Illini West) and Bryce Colvin (East Peoria, IL/East Peoria) each chipped in with six stops apiece.

For Tiffin, Frendo put together a solid afternoon by completing 31-of-49 attempts for 362 yards with two touchdowns. Shead caught 10 passes for 165 yards.

Saturday's win marked the first for McKendree in a season opener since 2010. It also helped the Bearcats avenge a 23-13 loss to the Dragons in last year's season opener in Tiffin, Ohio.