McKENDREE/SAINT JOSEPH'S HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH MIKE BABCOCK
PHOTO GALLERY

(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 15)—The McKendree University football team saved its best for last in snatching a 20-16 come-from-behind Homecoming win on Saturday at Leemon Field against Saint Joseph's College.
 
McKendree scored 13 points in the final 1:26 of play to rally from a 16-7 deficit to remain undefeated at home in 2016. The Bearcats also snapped a two-game losing streak in the process, moving to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
 
Junior quarterback Elcee Burke threw three touchdowns passes on the day, including an 11-yard strike to junior wide receiver Dalton Balster (Springfield, IL/Springfield) with 1:26 left, then hooked up with sophomore tight end Skylar Paulson (Lanark, IL/Eastland) on spectacular four-yard grab with 42.3 seconds on the clock to push McKendree in front for good.
 
The Burke-to-Paulson touchdown pass was set up thanks to a blocked punt by sophomore linebacker John Alvin that was scooped up by junior defensive back Weston Brown (Murrieta, CA/Murrieta Valley) and returned inside the Pumas' five-yard line with just under a minute to play.
 
"I felt like our defense was definitely keeping us in it," said McKendree head football coach Mike Babcock. "(The Saint Joseph's) offense did a nice job of running the ball, picked up key third downs and kept drives alive. But we were able to limit their scoring opportunities, and what a big push from our guys at the end. You talk about playing 60 minutes of football. That was a great win for us, an important win not only because it's Homecoming, but because we were able to come back against a very good GLVC opponent."
 
With 3:29 remaining and Saint Joseph's holding a 16-7 lead, McKendree took possession at its own 14-yard line following a punt by the Pumas. The Bearcats proceeded to march 86 yards in 10 plays, capped by the 11-yard touchdown pass from Burke to Balster, who used his strength to wrestle the ball away from a Pumas' defender in end zone with 1:26 left to play. Senior kicker Steven O'Block (Libertyville, IL/Carmel Catholic) booted the extra point to trim the Bearcats' deficit to 16-14.
 
O'Block got a favorable hop on the ensuing onside kick, but the ball hopped over the Saint Joseph's front line at the last second and sped out of bounds at the 46-yard line. McKendree was able to keep the Pumas from converting a first down, and used all three of its timeouts to set up a punt situation for the visitors with 1:10 remaining. The Bearcats were able to get a push on the right side of the line on the punt attempt by the Pumas' Marcin Gawlak, but Alvin was able to speed through the middle of the line and get a hand on the punt. Brown then picked up the loose ball on the run at the Pumas' 33-yard line and raced downfield before being pushed out of bounds at the Saint Joseph's three-yard line.
 
"The coaches told us that we were going outside all day, so we wanted to blast up the middle this time. (Saint Joseph's) left me unblocked and I just had to get my hands up," said Alvin of the blocked punt. "When Weston scooped it up I just tried my best to block and help him score. That's my job."
 
Facing a second-and-goal at the Pumas' four-yard line, Burke dropped back and lofted a pass toward the back of the end zone for Paulson, who corralled the ball while falling down. Paulson cradled the ball near his right hip while coming down inbounds for the touchdown, which gave the Bearcats a 20-16 advantage with 42.3 seconds left. It was Paulson's third TD reception of the season.
 
Saint Joseph's (4-3, 3-2 GLVC) looked to rally, but a deep pass was intercepted by McKendree freshman defensive back Blake Benoist (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) at the Pumas' 12-yard line with 23.2 seconds remaining to seal the emotional win for the Bearcats. Prior to Saturday's kickoff, McKendree honored former punter Alex McMahon with a moment of silence. McMahon, a 2016 graduate of McKendree, passed away on Sunday following a five-year battle with cancer. The Bearcats stood with arms locked on the sideline for exactly one minute to honor McMahon, who wore No. 1 during his four-year career.
 
McKendree trailed 3-0 early in the second quarter when Burke threw his first touchdown pass of the contest, a 43-yard strike to junior wide receiver Darius Crochrell (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) with 13:45 left until halftime. O'Block's point after gave the Bearcats their first lead of the day at 7-3. The Pumas answered with a 17-play, 80-yard drive just before halftime as Martez Walker bulled his way into the end zone from three yards out on a fourth-and-one play.
 
The Pumas added to their 10-7 halfrtime advantage as Gawlak booted a pair of third-quarter field goals to give Saint Joseph's a nine-point cushion. Gawlak had three field goals on the day for the Pumas.
 
For the third time in as many games, junior running back Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) rushed for exactly 100 yards to pace the McKendree ground attack. Burke added 36 yards along with 103 passing yards in the effort for the Bearcats.
 
Senior linebacker A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) led all players with 16 tackles in the win for McKendree. Junior defensive end Tobias Cook (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) chipped in with nine stops, while junior defensive back Nate Powell (Chicago, IL/King College Prep) helped out with seven tackles, six of which were solos.
 
With its win on Saturday, McKendree is now 20-1 in Homecoming games at Leemon Field since the Bearcats' football program was revived in 1996.
 
McKendree will return to action next Saturday (Oct. 22) at Leemon Field with a GLVC match-up against Missouri S&T. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.