GAME DAY LINKS -- McKendree vs. Indianapolis -- Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, 1 p.m. -- Leemon Field, Lebanon, Ill.
WATCH LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
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McKENDREE/INDIANAPOLIS VIDEO PREVIEW WITH COACH BABCOCK
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
McKENDREE GAME NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS SEASON STATISTICS
INDIANAPOLIS GAME NOTES

(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 8)--The two remaining undefeated teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings will collide on Saturday when the McKendree football team plays host to the University of Indianapolis. The Bearcats and Greyhounds will square off at Leemon Field beginning at 1 p.m. The contest can be seen live on the Bearcat Sports Network at www.mckbearcats.com/watch. 

Both teams are 2-0 in the GLVC following Homecoming victories last week. McKendree pulled away over the final three quarters to post a 38-13 win last Saturday over Southwest Baptist University. Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) threw for 326 yards and a pair of touchdowns while running for two more scores to help lead the offensive effort for the Bearcats. That effort enabled Fisher to win his third GLVC Offensive Player of the Week award for the 2015 season. Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) matched a career-high with nine receptions against Southwest Baptist. As a team, McKendree piled up 489 yards of total offense last weekend.

The effort was just as impressive on the defensive side. McKendree put up a season-high eight quarterback sacks, including a combined seven by defensive ends Lucky Baar (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) and Brett Pearman (Granite City, IL/Granite City). Baar notched a season-high 4 1/2 sacks on his way to claiming GLVC Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Pearman added 2 1/2 sacks as well. The Bearcats also held Southwest Baptist running back Bubba Jenkins -- who had set a school and conference record a week earlier with 258 rushing yards -- to just 86 yards on the ground last Saturday. The win pushed McKendree to 4-0 on the season, giving the Bearcats their best start since 2003, when the team won its first five games.

In addition, McKendree extended its win streak to nine consecutive games, dating back to the middle of the 2014 campaign. That matches a team record for consecutive victories since the Bearcats' program was revived prior to the 1996 season. McKendree won its first nine games in the 2002 season, then equaled that by reeling off nine victories in a row to close out the 2009 regular season. 

Indianapolis remained perfect in GLVC play thanks to its 26-13 Homecoming triumph last Saturday over Truman State University. The Greyhounds used a burst of 24 unanswered points to take control and improve to 4-1 overall. Quarterback Connor Barthel was 18-of-28 for 192 yards with a touchdown pass. Andrew Walker led a balanced rushing attack for Indianapolis with 81 yards on 17 carries, while Shakir Paschall added 75 yards on 15 attempts. Both Walker and Paschall had a rushing touchdown in last week's victory. The Greyhounds' defense was paced by Derrick Bryant, who registered a game-high 15 tackles against the Bulldogs. 

Saturday's game will mark the fourth meeting all-time between McKendree and Indianapolis. The Greyhounds have won the previous three, all of which have had a double-digit margin of victory. In the 2014 meeting, host Indianapolis scored on eight of nine possessions to pull away for a 52-7 win over the Bearcats. 

McKendree will hit the road after the Indianapolis contest for its next two games, beginning with a road trip next Saturday (Oct. 17) to Rensselaer, Ind., for a meeting against Saint Joseph's College. The Bearcats will not return to Leemon Field until a Halloween match-up with Lincoln University on Oct. 31. 

INSIDE THE McKENDREE/INDIANAPOLIS GAME
THE HEAD COACHES
McKENDREE: Mike Babcock is in his third season as the head coach of the McKendree Bearcats (13-12 at McKendree and overall). Babcock came to McKendree from Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he spent the five years as an offensive assistant coach. From 2009-12, Babcock served as the ThunderWolves' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. 

INDIANAPOLIS: Bob Bartolomeo is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Indianapolis Greyhounds (46-17 at Indianapolis and 60-24-1 overall in eight seasons as a collegiate head coach). 

THE SERIES (Since 1996)
Indianapolis has won all three meetings against McKendree, including last year's contest in the capital city of Indiana.:
   2012 -- Indianapolis 45, McKENDREE 15 (at Indianapolis, Ind.)
   2013 -- Indianapolis 45, McKENDREE 7 (at Leemon Field) 
   2014 -- Indianapolis 52, McKENDREE 7 (at Indianapolis, Ind.)

McKENDREE -- LAST TIME OUT...
The Bearcats kept their perfect record intact with a 38-13 Homecoming victory last Saturday at Leemon Field against Southwest Baptist University. McKendree outscored the visitors 31-0 over the final three quarters to take control and improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) collected his fourth straight 300-yard passing game, throwing for 326 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fisher also ran for two more scores in the effort. Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) matched a career-high with nine receptions, which included a 28-yard TD grab in the later stages of the second quarter that put McKendree in front to stay. The Bearcats piled up 489 yards of total offense, while the defense registered a season-high eight quarterback sacks. Lucky Baar (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) led the way with 4 1/2 sacks, while Brett Pearman (Granite City, IL/Granite City) added another 2 1/2 sacks. Cruz Navarro (Escondido, CA/Escondido) led the defensive effort with 11 tackles, while A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) finished with 10 stops and Baar added nine tackles. 

INDIANAPOLIS -- LAST TIME OUT...
Like McKendree, Indianapolis hosted its Homecoming contest last Saturday, which resulted in 26-13 win for the Greyhounds over Truman State University. Indianapolis reeled off 24 unanswered points -- including a 17-point third quarter -- to move to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC. Quarterback Connor Barthel was 18-of-28 for 192 yards with a touchdown pass. Malik Higgins and Alex Kimack each caught five passes in the contest, while Reece Horn had four grabs, including a three-yard TD reception from Barthel just before halftime. Andrew Walker led a balanced rushing effort for the Greyhounds with 81 yards on 17 carries, while Shakir Paschall added 75 yards on 15 attempts. Both Walker and Paschall had a rushing touchdown in the win. Derrick Bryant registered a game-high 15 tackles to lead the Indianapolis defensive effort. Rob Dury chipped in with nine stops, while Aeneas White added eight tackles and an interception. 

THE LAST MEETING, McKENDREE vs. INDIANAPOLIS
On Oct. 11, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind., the host Greyhounds scored on eight of nine possessions to post a 52-7 win over the Bearcats. Kevin Witcik (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) scored the lone touchdown of the evening for McKendree with a two-yard touchdown run with 8:27 to play in the contest. Witcik rushed for a career-high 83 yards to lead the Bearcats. Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) was 14-of-22 through the air for 73 yards. Alec Gerdes (Normal, IL/Normal) notched a game-high 13 tackles for the Bearcats, while A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) contributed 11 stops. George Hill (Chicago Heights, IL/Rich Central) added an interception for McKendree. Connor Barthel was 17-of-22 for 312 yards with four TD passes. Matt Ripp gained 104 yards on the ground for Indianapolis, while Reece Horn had nine receptions for 175 yards and three scores. Aeneas White and Rob Dury each had seven tackles to pace the Greyhounds. 

BEARCAT TRACKS
FISHER, BAAR RECEIVE GLVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: McKendree collected two of the three Great Lakes Valley Conference Football Player of the Week awards up for grabs this past week. For the third time this season, senior quarterback Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) has been selected as the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week. Fisher threw for 326 yards and a pair of touchdowns while running for two more scores in the Bearcats' 38-13 Homecoming win over Southwest Baptist University. Junior defensive end Lucky Baar (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) garnered GLVC Defensive Player of the Week honors as well. Baar had nine tackles with six solos -- including a season-high 4 1/2 quarterback sacks -- in the win. Baar was a three-time GLVC Player of the Week honoree in 2014, when he was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. 

TO THE NINES: Dating back to the midway point of the 2014 season, McKendree has won its last nine regular-season contests. That matches the Bearcats' longest win streak since the revival of the football program in 1996. McKendree won its first nine games in 2002 and closed the 2009 season with nine straight triumphs. 

MORE ABOUT THE STREAK: McKendree enters today's contest with the longest active win streak among all NCAA Division II programs at nine consecutive victories. 

BEARCATS vs. THE HOOSIER STATE: McKendree has a record of 10-14 all-time against teams from the state of Indiana. Excluding the 2006 season, the Bearcats have played an Indiana school each year since the program was revived for the 1996 campaign. 

20 SEASONS OF FOOTBALL: 2015 marks the 20th season of football at McKendree since the program was revived in 1996. 

200 AND COUNTING: The Sept. 12 contest at West Liberty marked the 200th football game played by McKendree since bringing back its football program in 1996. 

DOUBLING UP: McKendree has scored at least 10 points in a game in 172 of its last 184 outings. 

21 AND OVER: McKendree sports a 114-22 record (.838) when scoring at least 21 points in a game. The Bearcats are 90-18 (.833) in their last 108 contests when reaching the 21-point mark.    

PILING ON THE POINTS (AND YARDS): Over the Bearcats' current nine-game win streak, McKendree has averaged 40.1 points per game, along with 509.6 yards of total offense per outing. The Bearcats have gained at least 500 yards in total offense in four of those contests, while McKendree has reached the 50-point mark three times over that same span. 

FISHER FACTS: The 326 yards through the air by Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) versus Southwest Baptist marked his seventh career 300-yard passing game, and fourth in a row (he had 353 yards at West Liberty, 369 versus Northwood and 331 at William Jewell). Also, Fisher continued to move his way up the program's career rushing list. Fisher now has 1,224 rushing yards with the Bearcats, which is good for 15th on the all-time list. Jason Jackson sits in 14th place in the team's career rushing chart with 1,241 yards, while Jason Yelton is 13th all-time with 1,255 yards. 

FISHER FACT OF THE WEEK: Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) has thrown touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) in each of the Bearcats' last six games, a streak that dates back to the Lincoln University game last November. 

JAMES CONTINUES TO IMPRESS: Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) matched a career-high with his nine catches against Southwest Baptist. James had 91 receiving yards in the contest to give him 1,344 yards for his career. That is just six yards behind Dewayne Gatti (Pasadena, CA/Bonita) for the Bearcats' all-time lead in the category. 

McKENDREE RECEIVERS CATCHING ON: Entering today's game against Indianapolis. four current members of the Bearcats' receiving corps are in the team's all-time top 10 for receptions: Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) (1st with 126), senior Pat Doty (Springfield, IL/Springfield) (5th with 67), junior Tyler Brewer (Arnold, MO/Fox) (tied for 8th with 42) and junior Sean Dowling (Chatham, IL/Glenwood) (tied for 10th with 40). 

A.J. IS OK: With 10 more tackles against Southwest Baptist, junior linebacker A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) continues to move up the top 10 in career tackles at McKendree. Wentland enters today's contest with 199 stops, which is currently tied for seventh on the Bearcats' career list with Darius Green. Jason Rejfek is up next in sixth place at 216 tackles. Brandon Nigro holds the top spot with 295 stops during his four-year career with the Bearcats. 

SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?: The triumph at West Liberty marked the first win for McKendree in a road opener since the 2009 season. Since the revival of the football program in 1996, the Bearcats have won their road opener eight different times. In each of those seasons, McKendree closed the year with a winning record. In fact, the Bearcats averaged better than eight wins per season in those instances. 

THIS DATE IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY
Oct. 10, 2009
McKendree rallied from a pair of fourth-quarter deficits to post a 24-20 victory over the University of St. Francis (Ill.) at Leemon Field. The win extended the Bearcats' winning streak over the Fighting Saints to 11 games. The winning score came with 3:51 to play when Austin Fisher connected with Myron Hicks on a 21-yard TD pass. Fisher opened the drive with a 31-yard strike to Hicks over the middle to the St. Francis 41-yard line. Two plays later, Fisher scrambled for a 20-yard gain and followed up with his game-winning touchdown pass to Hicks. Fisher was 12-of-19 in the contest for 196 yards, boosting McKendree's season total to 975 passing yards. That established a new Bearcats' record for passing yards in a season. 

Oct. 10, 1998
McKendree broke open a close game with Trinity International University with a 31-point second half on its way to a 41-6 victory at Leemon Field. Jason Jackson led the rushing attack for the Bearcats with 109 yards, including a 56-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Jarrod Karnes added 76 yards on 13 attempts in the effort. McKendree scored twice thanks to fumble returns -- a 25-yarder by Joe Bruss midway through the third quarter and a two-yard scamper by Ryan Jimison with just over five minutes remaining. As a team, the Bearcats had five fumble recoveries against the Trojans.