(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 1)—The McKendree University football team pitched a shutout in the second half to register a 33-19 come-from-behind victory Thursday night over Angelo State University in the 2016 season opener at Leemon Field.
 
After trailing 19-9 at the half, the Bearcats used a 50-yard interception return by junior cornerback Nate Powell (Chicago, IL/King College Prep) to spark a run of 24 unanswered points. Later in the quarter, junior quarterback Elcee Burke – subbing for injured starter Brendan Fred – threw a third-quarter touchdown pass and capped the comeback win with a spectacular 31-yard run with 1:48 remaining, breaking several tackles in the process.
 
This is the second consecutive season-opening win for McKendree. The Bearcats posted a 50-27 road win to open the 2015 campaign at West Liberty University.
 
"This was a game where we saw some guys step up and make big plays when we needed," said McKendree head coach Mike Babcock, whose team has now won 14 of its last 16 games dating back to the 2014 season. "The defense really helped turn the momentum, especially with Nate's play to start the third quarter. I thought we saw the young guys on our offense start to get in the flow and really came together on that last drive of the game. This was a big all-around effort for our team."
 
Burke completed 6-of-8 passes in a little over a quarter for 75 yards while adding 56 yards on eight rushes. Junior running back Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) posted a game-high 84 yards on a school-record 34 carries for the Bearcats, who rushed for 223 yards in the contest. Senior wide receiver Sean Dowling (Chatham, IL/Glenwood) led all players with six receptions in the win for McKendree.
 
Senior linebacker A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) had a game-high 13 tackles to lead the McKendree defensive effort. Wentland moved into second place on the Bearcats' career list, surpassing Bearcat Hall of Fame inductee Mike Garavalia during Thursday's win. Wentland now has 289 stops in his four years at McKendree, and needs six tackles to tie Brandon Nigro for the all-time mark.

Senior defensive lineman Lucky Baar (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) also inched his way up the McKendree career list with his three quarterback sacks against Angelo State. Baar is just the second player in program history to reach the 30-sack mark and now has 32 for his career. Oku Satcher is the Bearcats' career leader with 38.
 
Powell, junior linebacker Kyle Kirkpatrick (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) and freshman defensive back Blake Benoist (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) each chipped in with seven stops, with Powell adding a pair of interceptions for McKendree.
 
McKendree took the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards in seven plays to grab their first lead of the season. Edwards capped the drive with an 18-yard scoring run down the left side to put the Bearcats in front by a 6-0 score. Angelo State (0-1) midway through the first quarter on a 20-yard scoring run by Jake Faber, and the point after gave the Rams a 7-6 advantage.
 
Senior kicker Steven O'Block (Libertyville, IL/Carmel Catholic) helped McKendree regain a 9-7 lead with a 25-yard field goal on the ensuing drive. The Angelo State defense controlled the second quarter, getting a four-yard interception return from Justin Jackson and a safety just over three minutes later to build a 19-9 lead with five minutes remaining until halftime.
 
The Rams had the ball to start the second half, but the McKendree defense turned the tables on the Rams to start the comeback effort. On third play from scrimmage, senior defense back Jabaree Winston (Chicago, IL/Simeon) tipped a pass attempt by Faber high into the air, which was then grabbed by Powell. He raced untouched down the left sideline 50 yards for the score, cutting the Bearcats' deficit to 19-16.
 
Following an Angelo State turnover, Burke connected with sophomore wide receiver DeQuan Dudley (Hazel Crest, IL/Rich Central) on a 16-yard touchdown pass, and O'Block's extra point gave McKendree the lead for good at 23-19. O'Block tacked on a 40-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the period to extend the margin to 26-19.
 
With just under four minutes to play, McKendree took possession at its own 42-yard line. Three straight runs by Edwards moved the ball into Rams' territory. Two plays later, facing a third-and-one, Burke bounced of a pair of tackles over the right side, cut back and evaded two more would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown burst that helped seal the victory for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree will host West Liberty next Saturday (Sept. 10) in non-conference play. Kickoff at Leemon Field is set for 1 p.m.