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(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 2)--The McKendree University football team continues Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Saturday when the Bearcats play host to Truman State University at Leemon Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The game can been seen live on the Bearcat Sports Network (www.mckbearcats.com/watch) beginning with a 20-minute pre-game show. Austin Lagesse will call the action for McKendree.

The Bearcats are still in search of their first victory of the 2014 season. McKendree enters the contest at 0-4 overall after dropping a 35-33 heartbreaker last Saturday night at home in the GLVC opener against Saint Joseph's College. After sophomore wide receiver Tyler Brewer (Arnold, MO/Fox) caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) with 8:10 to play, the visiting Pumas rallied to retake the lead in the final two minutes. McKendree mounted one last 13-play drive in an attempt to win the game but were stopped inside the Pumas' 40-yard line on the final play of the contest. Fisher broke McKendree game records for pass attempts and completions he set just one week earlier, going 34-of-58 against Saint Joseph's for 341 yards with three touchdowns. Brewer also topped the Bearcats' one-week old record for pass receptions in a game, hauling in 13 passes on the night. Senior wide receiver Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita) collected 12 receptions at Northwood University back on Sept. 20. As a team, McKendree piled up a season-high 497 yards of total offense. 

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore linebacker A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) continued to lead the way for McKendree as he posted a career-high 16 tackles, while senior linebacker Bryce Colvin (East Peoria, IL/East Peoria) chipped in with 12 stops. Senior defensive lineman Cameron Ford (Danville, IL/Danville) had a productive evening with 11 tackles, including 3 1/2 for loss with a quarterback sack, along with two forced fumbles for the Bearcats. 

Although McKendree has not posted a victory in its first four outings of the 2014 campaign, the last three games have not been decided until the closing moments. In those three outings, the Bearcats have lost by a combined 16 points (37-28 at the University of Findlay on Sept. 13, 32-27 at Northwood and 35-33 last week versus Saint Joseph's). In each of the last two games, McKendree has held the edge in total yards and first downs against their opponents (Northwood and Saint Joseph's).

Truman State comes into Saturday's game atop the GLVC standings at 2-0. The Bulldogs are 3-1 overall, dropping their season opener at Drake University before reeling off three consecutive victories. Last week Truman State held off a late challenge from Lincoln University to post a 29-20 win. It was a balanced attack that paced the Bulldogs to victory as Garrett White rushed for a game-high 116 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns. Quarterback Devonte Black threw for 216 yards and two more scores in the victory. Defensively, Truman State picked off three Lincoln passes. 

After Saturday's game, McKendree will be on the road for its next two contests: at the University of Indianapolis on Oct. 18 and at Southwest Baptist University on Oct. 18. 

THE SERIES (Since 1996)
The Bulldogs have won both previous meetings against the Bearcats, including last year's 28-21 decision on Oct. 19 in Kirksville, Mo.:
2011 -- Truman State 25, McKENDREE 10 (at Leemon Field)
2013 -- Truman State 28, McKENDREE 21 (at Kirksville, Mo.)

McKENDREE...LAST TIME OUT
The Bearcats rolled up a season-high in points and total yards, but were edged by visiting Saint Joseph's College last Saturday at Leemon Field, 35-33. McKendree piled up 497 yards on the night, including 341 through the air as Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) set new passing attempt and completion records in a game for the second straight week. Fisher was 34-of-58 and tossed three touchdowns in the contest. Tyler Brewer (Arnold, MO/Fox) eclipsed a team record set a week earlier with 13 receptions against Saint Joseph's, including a 35-yard TD grab with 8:10 to play that pushed the Bearcats out to their final lead of the night. Brewer had 116 receiving yards, while Dustin Walls (Champaign, IL/Centennial) caught seven passes for 89 yards. Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) rushed for a game-high 90 yards, including a 65-yard TD burst in the first quarter. Bryce Colvin (East Peoria, IL/East Peoria) led the defensive effort with 14 tackles, while A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) added 13 stops. Carter Vance (Secor, IL/Eureka) blocked a Pumas' punt for a safety.

TRUMAN STATE...LAST TIME OUT
The Bulldogs remained undefeated in the GLVC following a 29-20 victory last Saturday night at home over Lincoln University. Devonte Black was 21-of-27 for a career-high 216 yards with two touchdowns to lead Truman State. Garrett White added 119 yards with a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Joey Schenck had a team-leading five receptions in the contest for 64 yards. Defensively, Devin Gillespie paced the Bulldogs' defense with eight tackles, while J.D. Hurd added seven stops. Ben Chaney had six tackles and a pair of interceptions in the victory for Truman State.

LAST MEETING -- McKENDREE vs. TRUMAN STATE
On Oct. 19, 2013 in Kirksville, Mo., McKendree battled to the finish against Truman State, but the host Bulldogs were able to hold on for a 28-21 victory in GLVC play. The Bearcats trailed by 14 points heading into the fourth quarter but pulled within seven when Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita) set a team record with his third touchdown catch of the day, a 33-yard strike from Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington). He had another 33-yard TD catch on the day, along with a 36-yarder that opend the Bearcats' scoring late in the first quarter. During the contest, Gatti became the program's single-season leader in both receptions and receiving yards. He closed the afternoon with seven catches for 152 yards. Fisher was 19-of-39 for 228 yards. Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) rushed for a team-leading 62 yards on 11 attempts for McKendree. On the defensive side of the ball, George Hill (Chicago Heights, IL/Rich Central) collected a season-best 15 tackles against the Bulldogs, while Harrison Skokos (Bradenton, FL/Lakewood Ranch) added 10 stops. 

BEARCAT TRACKS
BEARCATS vs. THE SHOW-ME STATE: McKendree has a record of 5-6 all-time against teams from the state of Missouri since the Bearcats' program was revived in 1996. McKendree is 3-1 at home all-time in contests against Missouri institutions. 

SAFETY FIRST: McKendree recorded its first safety since early in the 2013 season against Saint Joseph's when Carter Vance (Secor, IL/Eureka) blocked a Pumas' punt out of the back of the end zone in the second quarter. The last time the Bearcats registered a safety came at William Jewell College on Sept. 22, 2013, when Brett Pearman (Granite City, IL/Granite City) sacked Cardinals' quarterback Sean Shelton in the the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

CATCHING UP WITH THE BEARCATS' RECEPTIONS LEADER: Senior wide receiver Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita) has surpassed Myron Hicks as the Bearcats' career receptions leader. Gatti has 87 catches at McKendree, eclipsing the old mark of 80 that Hicks set from 2008-11. Gatti had 12 catches at Northwood University when he surpassed Hicks' career total, which also broke the single-game record he set for the Bearcats in the 2013 season opener at home against Tiffin University. The single-game mark lasted just one week, however.

CATCHING ON QUICKLY: Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Brewer (Arnold, MO/Fox) entered the Saint Joseph's game with two receptions on the season. Against the Pumas, Brewer surpassed Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita)'s single-game receptions record set just one week earlier. Brewer hauled in 13 passes to top Gatti's mark of 12 and also posted another career-best with 116 receiving yards. 

THINK PINK: Members of the McKendree football team will be wearing items with pink accents during today's game in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

HERRING CONTINUES MARCH UP CAREER RUSHING LIST: Senior running back Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) is the 18th player at McKendree to rush for 1,000 yards in a career. Herring added to his total with 90 yards against Saint Joseph's and now has 1,265 yards with the Bearcats to move up to 13th place on the all-time list. The next three players on the Bearcats' career rushing list are:
10) Marlone Chenault -- 1,448 yards
11) Lamont Benn -- 1,436 yards
12) Dominique Jones -- 1,344 yards

DOUBLING UP: McKendree has reached double figures in the scoring column in 162 of its last 173 games.

SLINGING HIS WAY INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington)'s passing numbers against Northwood and Saint Joseph's represent the most prolific two-week totals by any McKendree quarterback in history. In those two contests, Fisher is 65-for-109 for 667 yards. The 34 completions on 58 attempts versus Saint Joseph's surpassed the records he established the week before at Northwood, when he was 31-of-51. In addition, Fisher's 341 passing yards against the Pumas is the second-highest game total in Bearcats' history, topped only by the 375 yards Fisher connected for in the 2013 season opener against Tiffin. 

...AND NOW FOR FISHER'S CAREER RECORDS: During the Bearcats' game with Saint Joseph's, Fisher became the program's career leader in pass attempts (636), pass completions (373) and total offensive yards (4,406). He topped the marks previously held by his older brother Austin, who was the Bearcats' starting quarterback from 2008-11. Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) needs 257 yards through the air to top Austin's mark for career passing yards (4,332) at McKendree.

LONGEST PLAYS IN McKENDREE FOOTBALL HISTORY (Since 1996)
RUSH: 90 yards by Brandon Murphy vs. Iowa Wesleyan, 2000*
PASS: 85 yards from Dan Loudenslager to Zach Atkins vs. Georgetown, 2008*
KICKOFF RETURN: 100 yards by Brandon Murphy vs. Olivet Nazarene, 1997*; 100 yards by Ryan Keen (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) vs. Tiffin, 2013*
PUNT RETURN: 86 yards by Adam Clapp vs. Quincy, 2004*
INTERCEPTION RETURN: 100 yards by Lawrence Davis vs. William Penn, 2007*
FIELD GOAL: 51 yards by Jordan Fark vs. University of the Cumberlands, 2010
PUNT: 74 yards by Mark Albertini vs. St. Francis (Ind.), 1999
* -- Touchdown

THIS DATE IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY
Oct. 4, 2008
Host Quincy University scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 3:26 remaining to hand McKendree a 20-13 Mid-States Football Association-Midwest League loss. The Bearcats' lone touchdown of the day came on their opening drive, a four-yard burst from Shane McBride. Kevin Kinsall kicked field goals of 36 and 30 yards for McKendree in the contest. 

Oct. 4, 2003
Kalib Brown scored all three touchdowns for McKendree in a 20-7 victory at Trinity International University. Brown rushed for 62 yards on 17 carries to help the Bearcats win their fifth consecutive MSFA Midwest League opener. Tyler Pankey threw just six passes on the day, but he completed five for 88 yards. The McKendree defense allowed the Trojans just 46 rushing yards on the day. 

Oct. 4, 1997
McKendree rolled to a 55-0 victory at home over Bethel College, marking the first shutout for the Bearcats since the program returned to the gridiron the year before. Louis Harden led the charge with a game-high 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Wildcats. McKendree posted a pair of defensive touchdowns in the second half as Rory O'Connell had a 68-yard interception return for a score and Jason Stearns picked up a fumble and raced two yards to paydirt. Jared Grebner opened the scoring on the day with a 91-yard kickoff return.