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McKENDREE GAME NOTES VS. FERRIS STATE

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(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 2)--It will be a historic night when the McKendree University football team kicks off its 2014 season Thursday night at Leemon Field with a non-conference game against Ferris State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Bearcats will be playing a Thursday night contest for the first time in program history when the Bulldogs visit Leemon Field. Ferris State also brings a stiff test for McKendree's season opener as the Bulldogs are ranked 21st in the d2football.com pre-season poll and received votes in the American Football Coaches Association pre-season rating.

Head coach Mike Babcock, who enters his second season at the helm of the McKendree program, led the Bearcats to a 4-6 record and a 3-4 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2013. Babcock was quick to note the talent and explosiveness that Ferris State will bring to Lebanon Thursday evening.

"Ferris State is a very good football team," said Babcock. "They will probably be one of the best teams we will face this year. They have tremendous athletes on both sides of the ball. I think they are very well coached. This is going to be a very big test for us, coming into the new year, after the adjustments we made during the off-season, and having a full year to implement some things in our system."

McKendree has fared well of late in season-opening games, winning nine of its last 13 season debuts. That includes the 2013 lid-lifter, a 32-28 come-from-behind win over visiting Tiffin University in Babcock's first game as the Bearcats' head coach. In that game, quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) set new program records with 28 pass completions and 375 yards through the air. Wide receiver Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita), who like Babcock was making his McKendree debut, established new team marks with 10 receptions and 201 receiving yards. Fisher and Gatti connected on the game-winning score, a 59-yard TD pass with just over four minutes to play. 

Ferris State won its final four games of the 2013 season and finished the year with an overall record of 8-3. The Bulldogs were third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 8-2 ledger. The Ferris State offense is geared around junior quarterback Jason Vander Laan, who established a new NCAA Division II record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a season. Vander Laan collected 1,607 yards on the ground as he helped the Bulldogs set a new team record for rushing yards in a campaign at 3,491.

"From what we have seen, (Vander Laan) is one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in the GLIAC," said Babcock. "He was an All-Region selection last year and has gotten some pre-season All-America recognition and it's very deserving. He can beat you many different ways on the football field. We have to be ready for the challenge that Vander Laan presents and be ready to stop the run. We need to rally to the ball and be able to make some plays."

Babcock was equally as impressed with the Bulldogs' defensive unit, which was the top GLIAC squad against the run in 2013. The Bulldogs were also stingy in pass defense, ranking fourth in the league. With four pre-season All-America honorees on the Ferris State defense, Babcock believes the Bearcats will need to execute and pay attention to detail on the offensive side of the ball.

"They are big and quick up front," said Babcock about the Bulldogs' front four. "They have a lot of size, but they are also guys who can get to the football and to the quarterback. We need to come out and play some smart football against Ferris State. We need to limit our mistakes because they have an opportunistic defense that will take advantage of mistakes that you make."

Following Thursday night's season opener, McKendree will be on the road for its next two contests. The Bearcats will wrap up the non-conference portion of its 2014 schedule against two more GLIAC opponents. McKendree will head to Ohio for a return game with the University of Findlay on Sept. 13. One week later on Sept. 20, the Bearcats will make their first-ever trip to the state of Michigan to square off against Northwood University. All road games can be heard live on the Bearcat Sports Network once again in 2014 at www.mckbearcats.com.