Box Score (BOLIVAR, Mo., Oct. 18)—In a game that features big plays, big statistical numbers and a couple of record-setting performances, the McKendree University football team posted a 53-43 win Saturday afternoon at Southwest Baptist University in a Battle of the Bearcats at Bolivar, Mo.
 
The Bearcats broke into the win column for the first time this season as it rallied from a 15-point deficit early in the third quarter, using a run of 29 unanswered points in the process. McKendree also put up a season-high 571 yards of total offense, including 328 on the ground, in moving to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats set a program record by running 93 offensive plays in the win, surpassing the previous mark of 89 set in a 2000 game against the University of Saint Francis (Ind.).
 
Sophomore defensive lineman Lucky Baar (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) also etched his name in the McKendree record books – as well as a new GLVC mark -- by collecting 5 ½ quarterback sacks against Southwest Baptist. Baar, who had four solo sacks in the first half alone, eclipsed the old record of 4 ½ sacks set by Oku Satcher set in a 2001 contest against Iowa Wesleyan College.
 
Baar's 5 ½ sacks breaks the previous GLVC mark of four sacks, which was set by former McKendree defensive lineman Tim Weidenbacher in a 2012 game versus Kentucky Wesleyan College
 
"With all the big numbers put up today, this was a game that boiled down to which team could make the big plays," said McKendree football coach Mike Babcock. "We had some guys step up offensively in the second half, put their nose to the grindstone and battled to the finish. Lucky and our defensive front constantly put pressure on (Southwest Baptist quarterback Willie) Tindal and came up with big stops when we needed them the most. This was a true team victory today."
 
Tindal, who set a GLVC record last week with 477 passing yards in a loss at Quincy University, topped that mark by two yards against McKendree with 479 yards through the air. But McKendree, which entered the day with nine quarterback sacks on the year entering today's game, brought Tindal down behind the line of scrimmage eight times in all.
 
McKendree and Southwest Baptist combined for 1,092 yards of total offense in Saturday's game. The 53 points scored by the Bearcats marks the first time in four years that they crossed the 50-point barrier in a road contest. The last time that happened came in a 50-21 triumph at Quincy University during the 2010 season. 
 
Junior quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) also had a big day both through the air and on the ground for McKendree. Fisher completed 24-of-41 pass attempts for 243 yards while he rushed for a career-high 103 yards on 21 carries. He accounted for four touchdowns on the day for the Bearcats, two passing and two rushing.
 
After holding a 29-21 lead at the half, Southwest Baptist (2-5, 1-5 GLVC) scored on its first possession of the second half thanks to a 59-yard touchdown run by Deantrelle Prince to build a 36-21 advantage less than two minutes into the third quarter. Sophomore running back Kevin Witcik (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) started the McKendree comeback as he capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit back to eight points at 36-28.
 
Less than three minutes later, junior wide receiver Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) made a spectacular leaping grab in the corner of the end zone on a 12-yard pass from Fisher to bring McKendree within 36-34. Fisher then connected with senior tight end Reuben Bowlby (Lincoln, IL/Lincoln) for the two-point conversion to tie the contest at 36-36 with 8:14 left in the third period.
 
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, sophomore wide receiver Tyler Brewer (Arnold, MO/Fox) caught a short pass over the middle from Fisher, eluded two tacklers and raced 34 yards into the end zone for the go-ahead score for the Bearcats. Sophomore kicker Steven O'Block (Libertyville, IL/Carmel Catholic) tacked on the extra point to give McKendree its flrst lead of the day at 43-36.
 
On the next possession, senior running back Treye Williams (Mattoon, IL/Mattoon) used a pair of runs to help build a 50-36 advantage for the Bearcats. Williams raced around the left side for a 28-yard gain to the Southwest Baptist 27-yard line, then took the next handoff and scampered to paydirt with 11:48 remaining.
 
Southwest Baptist scored on its next drive to pull within 50-43, but O'Block stretched the Bearcats' lead back to two scores by converting a 31-yard field goal with just over two minutes to play. Southwest Baptist put together one final drive, marching to the McKendree 26-yard line. But after a Tindal completion to Tristyn Bennett inside the five-yard line, McKendree stripped the ball away and sophomore linebacker A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) made the fumble recovery at the four-yard line with 12 seconds to play.
 
After Southwest Baptist built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, Fisher got the Bearcats on the scoreboard with a one-yard quarterback sneak to cut the deficit to three points. After the hosts extended the lead to 16-7, Witcik found the end zone from eight yards out to trim the margin to 16-14. Southwest Baptist then used a 75-yard TD pass from Tindal to Kendrick Payne and a 39-yard field goal from John Colliver to help push the lead back to 26-14.
 
With 5:03 remaining until halftime, Fisher posted his second scoring run of the day, a seven-yard burst, to bring McKendree back within 26-21. Then with just five seconds before intermission, Colliver booted a 42-yard field goal to provide Southwest Baptist with its eight-point lead at the half.
 
Williams finished the contest with a career-high 83 yards on just five carries, while Witcik chipped in with 66 yards on 13 attempts. James and senior wide receiver Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita) each had five receptions to lead McKendree.
 
Wentland paced the Bearcats' defensive effort with 10 tackles, while Baar was credited with nine stops. Freshman defensive back KeLand Smith helped out with seven tackles, and junior defensive lineman Brett Pearman (Granite City, IL/Granite City) contributed 2 ½ sacks on the day.
 
McKendree will host Missouri S & T next Saturday (Oct. 25) for Homecoming at Leemon Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in a GLVC contest.