GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE vs. INDIANAPOLIS -- Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, 1 p.m.
Leemon Field -- Lebanon, Ill.

WATCH LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
LIVE STATS
INDIANAPOLIS PREVIEW WITH COACH BABCOCK

McKENDREE GAME NOTES
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
INDIANAPOLIS GAME NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 5)--The McKendree University football team will face one of its toughest tests to date in the 2017 season when the Bearcats welcome the University of Indianapolis to Leemon Field for a Great Lakes Valley Conference game on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The game will be carried live on the Bearcat Sports Network (www.glvcsn.com/mckendree) beginning with the pre-game show at 12:45 p.m.

Indianapolis comes to Lebanon ranked No. 7 in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll that was released on Monday. UIndy will represent the highest-ranked team that McKendree has faced in its NCAA Division II era that dates back to 2012. Henderson State University was ranked ninth in Division II when the two programs faced off during the 2013 campaign. 

McKendree -- which enters Saturday's contest riding a four-game win streak -- was among the teams that received votes in this week's AFCA poll. The Bearcats are 4-1 overall, while UIndy brings a 5-0 season mark into Saturday's play. The Bearcats and Greyhounds are in a three-way tie along with Missouri S&T for the top spot in the GLVC standings at 2-0. 

Last Saturday, McKendree jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead on its way to a 28-7 Homecoming victory over Southwest Baptist University in a key GLVC match-up. Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) threw for 229 yards and three touchdowns in the effort, while Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) rushed for a game-high 127 yards on 27 carries. Edwards also had a 10-yard scoring run in the Battle of the Bearcats. Thanks to his 127-yard performance, Edwards moved up into sixth place on the Bearcats' career rushing list. He enters the UIndy game with 1,849 yards, and needs 151 yards to become just the fifth player in program history with 2,000 career rushing yards. 

Linebacker Ricco Gipson led the Bearcats' defensive effort with 14 tackles, including nine solos. Gipson recorded 2 1/2 tackles for loss and had one of the team's four sacks in the win. For his efforts, Gipson was selected as the GLVC Defensive Player of the Week, earning his first career conference weekly honor in the process. 

Indianapolis posted its own Homecoming victory last week against Truman State University, 34-19. Quarterback Jake Purichia went 14-of-21 through the air for 236 yards with three touchdowns in the contest. He connected with Garrett Willis eight times for 190 yards, and the pair connected twice on TD strikes against the Bulldogs. Joe Lambright registered a team-leading 14 tackles on the night, while Robert Williams and Jacob Schmatz each added eight stops. 

The Bearcats will be in search of their first win against UIndy in the series between the two teams. In each of the last two years, the Greyhounds have pulled away late to win by a score of 34-24. 

Saturday's contest will wrap up a two-game home stand for McKendree. The Bearcats will be on the road for their next two games, beginning with a non-conference tilt next Saturday (Oct. 14) at Davenport University in Michigan. 

McKENDREE-INDIANAPOLIS GAME NOTES
2017 Records --
McKENDREE: The McKendree University Bearcats are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
INDIANAPOLIS: The University of Indianapolis Greyhounds are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Head Coaches --
McKENDREE: Mike Babcock is in his fifth season as the head coach of the McKendree Bearcats (29-18 at McKendree and overall).
INDIANAPOLIS: Bob Bartolomeo is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Indianapolis Greyhounds (63-23 at Indianapolis and 77-30-1 overall in 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach).

The Series (Since 1996) --
The Greyhounds have won all five previous meetings with the Bearcats, including last year's 34-24 decision at Indianapolis:
   2012 -- Indianapolis 45, McKENDREE 15 (at Indianapolis, Ind.)
   2013 -- Indianapolis 45, McKENDREE 7 (at Leemon Field)
   2014 -- Indianapolis 52, McKENDREE 7 (at Indianapolis, Ind.)
   2015 -- Indianapolis 34, McKENDREE 24 (at Leemon Field)
   2016 -- Indianapolis 34, McKENDREE 24 (at Indianapolis, Ind.)

McKendree -- Last Time Out...
The Bearcats notched their fourth consecutive victory thanks to a 28-7 Homecoming triumph over Southwest Baptst University at Leemon Field. Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) registered season-high of 229 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air as McKendree won the Battle of the Bearcats for the third time in four years. Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) recorded his third 100-yard rushing effort in the last four games, posting a game-high 127 yards on 27 carries. Derrick Curry (Glen Ellyn, IL/Montini Catholic) and Zach Bobos (Lowell, IN/Lowell) each caught a team-high five passes in the victory. Ricco Gipson (Godfrey, IL/Alton) paced the Bearcats' defensive effort with 14 tackles, including nine solos. Darion Simmons (Peoria, IL/Peoria) had 2 1/2 of McKendree's four sacks in the contest, while Austin Weltha (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) chipped in with nine tackles against Southwest Baptist.

Indianapolis -- Last Time Out...
The Greyhounds registered a Homecoming victory of their own last Saturday at home against Truman State University, 34-19. Indianapolis overcame an early 10-point deficit to push its record to 5-0 overall. Quarterback Jake Purichia went 14-of-21 through the air for 236 yards with three touchdowns. His favorite target was Garrett Willis, who hauled in eight passes for 190 yards, including scoring grabs of 31 and 16 yards. Al McKeller rushed for a team-best 77 yards on 15 carries against the Bulldogs. Joe Lambright anchored things defensively for the Greyhounds with 14 tackles, while Robert Williams chipped in with eight tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Daveon Bell had an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown.

LAST MEETING -- McKendree vs. Indianapolis
On Oct. 8, 2016 at Indianapolis, Ind., the host Greyhounds pulled away late from the Bearcats to post a 34-24 victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. It marked the second consecutive year that UIndy defeated McKendree by a 34-24 score, and it was also second straight year that the Greyhounds used a pick-six in the final two minutes of play to seal the win. Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) led the Bearcats with 100 rushing yards on 24 carries. Sean Dowling (Chatham, IL/Glenwood) had three catches for 99 yards in the contest, including a career-long 77-yard touchdown grab. A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) showed the way for the McKendree defense with 13 tackles, including two for loss. Tobias Cook (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) notched nine tackles, while Austin Weltha (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) added eight stops. Weltha also had a blocked punt that he returned 29 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Bearcat Tracks --
BEARCATS vs. THE HOOSIER STATE: McKendree has a record of 12-15 against teams from the state of Indiana since 1996. Excluding the 2006 season, the Bearcats have played an Indiana school each year since the program returned in 1996.

HOME PERFECTION: McKendree won all six of its home games during the 2016 season. That marked the first time since the 2010 campaign that the Bearcats closed a season with an unblemished record at home. With its win over Southwest Baptist on Sept. 30, McKendree has won 10 straight games played at Leemon Field, dating back to the 2015 season. The program record for consecutive home victories is 11, which occurred from 2008-10.

EDWARDS TAKES AIM AT 2,000: Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) has moved up to sixth place on the Bearcats' all-time rushing list. Edwards enters today's contest with 1,849 yards at McKendree, and needs 151 yards to become just the fifth player in school history with 2,000 career rushing yards:
   1) Daryle Jones -- 3,187 yards
   2) George Smith -- 2,378 yards
   3) Brandon Murphy -- 2,239 yards
   4) Drew Cofty -- 2,041 yards
   5) Louis Harden -- 1,874 yards
   6) Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) -- 1,849 yards
   7) Jarrod Karnes -- 1,825 yards
   8) Isaac Fisher -- 1,749 yards

TWICE AS NICE: For the first time in 19 years, McKendree recorded two interception returns for a touchdown during the victory at William Jewell. The last time the Bearcats registered two pick-sixes in the same game was back in 1998 during a 39-9 win over Doane College at Leemon Field. It is the third time in program history that McKendree had two interception returns for a score in the same contest.

PICK 'EM: The four interceptions by McKendree at William Jewell tied a program single-game record. The Bearcats had four interceptions in a game four different times before the William Jewell contest, with the last coming at home against Central State University in 2012.

PICK 'EM AND RETURN 'EM: McKendree has registered three touchdowns returns on interceptions through the first five games of the 2017 season. The team record for pick-sixes in a season is five, which was set back in 1997.

21 AND OVER: McKendree sports a 128-25 record (.837) when scoring at least 21 points in a game since the beginning of the 1996 season.

UNI-TRACKER: McKendree used five different uniform combinations during the 2016 season. Below are the records for the Bearcats while wearing each combo. We will again track the McKendree football record in 2017 while wearing certain combinations. McKendree's 2016 record in the uniform combination is in parentheses:
   **Graphite Jersey/Purple Pants: 1-0 (2-0)
   **Graphite Jersey/Graphite Pants: 1-0 (4-0)
   **White Jersey/Purple Pants: 1-0 (0-2)
   **White Jersey/Graphite Pants: 1-0 (1-1)
   **White Jersey/White Pants: 0-1 (1-0)

POINTS A-PLENTY: McKendree recorded 35 first-quarter points in its 54-28 victory at William Jewell College. That marked the Bearcats' highest-scoring first quarter since 2009, when they also had 35 points in the opening 15 minutes of a 66-0 triumph over Waldorf College at Leemon Field.

SPEAKING OF POINTS...: The Bearcats' 54-point outburst at William Jewell marked the 10th time in the program's NCAA Division II era (since 2012) that McKendree scored at least 50 points in a game.

PLAYING KEEP-AWAY: McKendree has owned the edge in time of possession over its last three games. The Bearcats have not had a streak that long since the 2013 season, when McKendree held the ball longer than its opponents in the first six games of the year.

CURRY RACES INTO RECORD BOOKS: With his 63-yard punt return for a touchdown against Kentucky State, senior wide receiver Derrick Curry (Glen Ellyn, IL/Montini Catholic) has become the Bearcats' career leader in the category. It was Curry's third career punt return for TD at McKendree, all of which have come over the Bearcats' last four contests dating back to last season. He broke a tie with Jermaine Cooper (1999-2002), Adam Clapp (2003-06) and Cameron James (2012-15) for the top spot.

COOK'S PICK-SIX: Senior defensive lineman Tobias Cook (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) intercepted a Kentucky State pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown in the Bearcats' win over Kentucky State. That marked his first career defensive touchdown for the Bearcats. He had two TD receptions against William Jewell College as a freshman tight end at McKendree in 2014. It also marked the first time a McKendree defensive lineman had an interception return for a touchdown since J.T. Smith's 30-yard pick-six at Saint Ambrose University in 2010.

FAST STARTERS: Through its first five games of 2017, McKendree has outscored its opponents 118-49.

GIPSON NAMED GLVC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ricco Gipson (Godfrey, IL/Alton) became the second McKendree player in 2017 to earn Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Gipson won the award following his 14-tackle performance in the Bearcats' win over Southwest Baptist. Of his 14 tackles, Gipson had 2 1/2 for loss including a quarterback sack.

Longest Plays in Team History --
Since 1996
RUSH: 90 yards by Brandon Murphy vs. Iowa Wesleyan, 2000*
PASS: 85 yards by Dan Loudenslager to Zach Atkins vs. Georgetown, 2008*
KICKOFF RETURN: 100 yards by Brandon Murphy vs. Olivet Nazarene, 1997*; 100 yards by Ryan Keen vs. Tiffin, 2013*
PUNT RETURN: 90 yards by Derrick Curry (Glen Ellyn, IL/Montini Catholic) vs. Truman State, 2016*
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: 78 yards by Monte Wolke (Sigel, IL/Cumberland) vs. West Liberty, 2016
* -- Touchdown

This Date In Bearcat Football History -- 
Oct. 7, 2000
McKendree set a program record with 608 yards of total offense on its way to a 56-0 victory over Iowa Wesleyan College. The Bearcats piled up 457 yards on the ground, including a school-record 213 yards by Brandon Murphy. Early in the second quarter, Murphy set another school mark with a 90-yard touchdown run against the Tigers. Billy Gray threw for 151 yards and a touchdown in the contest, which included a 47-yard scoring strike to Clyde Brown. Ryan Davenport led a balanced defensive effort for McKendree with six tackles. The Bearcts' defense stifled the Iowa Wesleyan offense all day, allowing just 86 total yards in the contest.

Oct. 7, 2006
Dominique Jones became the 12th player in McKendree program history to rush for 1,000 career yards during the Bearcats' 37-7 home victory over Olivet Nazarene University. Jones reached the milestone in impressive fashion thanks to a 60-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Jones finished with a team-high 80 yards rushing, boosting his career total to 1,056 yards. Steve Moravec led the Bearcats' defensive effort with seven tackles as McKendree held the visiting Tigers to 190 yards of total offense on the day.