GAME DAY LINKS -- 
McKENDREE AT HILLSDALE -- Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, 7 p.m. ET
Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium -- Hillsdale, Mich.

LISTEN LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
WATCH LIVE (Hillsdale Broadcast)
LIVE STATS
HILLSDALE PREVIEW WITH COACH BABCOCK

McKENDREE GAME NOTES
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
HILLSDALE GAME NOTES
HILLSDALE SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 14)--The McKendree University football team will head north to Hillsdale, Mich., this weekend for the first two straight road games. The Bearcats will take on Hillsdale College in non-conference play Saturday evening, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast live on the Bearcat Sports Network (www.glvcsn.com/mckendree), with live audio beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. ET (5:45 p.m. CT). 

McKendree evened its season record at 1-1 thanks to a 50-0 victory this past Saturday at Leemon Field against Kentucky State University. The Bearcats used the strength of a 29-point second-quarter outburst to build a 36-point halftime lead on its way to the win. McKendree registered a pair of special teams touchdowns with a 71-yard kickoff return for a score from Josh Lovings (Alton, IL/Alton) along with a 63-yard punt return for TD by Derrick Curry (Glen Ellyn, IL/Montini Catholic). The Bearcats' defensive unit also joined in the fun with a safety to begin the high-scoring second quarter, followed by a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tobias Cook (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep). 

Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) rushed for a game-high 122 yards and matched a career-best with three touchdowns in leading McKendree to a 265-yard day on the ground against the Thorobreds. Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) was 16-of-26 through the air for 132 yards. McKendree quarterbacks connected with nine different receivers in the victory. 

The Bearcats' defense had another productive afternoon with six quarterback sacks. McKendree has now had multiple sacks in each of its last seven games, dating back to the end of the 2016 campaign. Ricco Gipson (Godfrey, IL/Alton) led the balanced defensive effort for the Bearcats with eight tackles, while he had one of the six sacks against Kentucky State. Austin Weltha (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) chipped in with seven tackles along with a sack, and he was in on the second-quarter safety along with Darion Simmons (Peoria, IL/Peoria). McKendree also intercepted its first three passes of the 2017 season in Saturday's victory. 

Hillsdale enters Saturday's game with a 2-0 record. The Chargers, who received votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll, needed a 21-point fourth-quarter rally to notch a 31-27 victory in its home opener last Saturday against Michigan Tech. David Graham rushed for a game-high 98 yards, including the game-winning five-yard TD burst with 1:09 to play. Quarterback Chance Stewart conneted on 21-of-37 pass attempts for 215 yards. Stewart also rushed for two scores in the Michigan Tech contest. Stewart's favorite target was Trey Brock, who caught eight passes for 83 yards.

Defensively, Spencer Nehls paced the Chargers' defense with 10 tackles, while Nate Jones chipped in with eight tackles and a forced fumble. 

Saturday's game will mark the first meeting on the gridiron between McKendree and Hillsdale. The game will be the third of four non-conference match-ups for the Bearcats, who open up Great Lakes Valley Conference next Saturday at William Jewell College. McKendree's other non-conference tilt on the 2017 schedule will come on Oct. 14 with a return trip to Michigan to face Davenport University. 

McKENDREE-HILLSDALE GAME NOTES
2017 Records --
McKENDREE: The McKendree University Bearcats are 1-1 overall and 0-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
HILLSDALE: The Hillsdale College Chargers are 2-0 and 0-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

The Head Coaches --
McKENDREE: Mike Babcock is in his fifth season as the head coach of the McKendree Bearcats (26-18 at McKendree and overall).
HILLSDALE: Keith Otterbein is in his 16th season as the head coach of the Hillsdale Chargers (93-74 at Hillsdale and 133-104-3 overall in his 27th season as a collegiate head coach).

The Series (since 1996) --
This will be the first meeting on the football field between the Bearcats and Chargers.

McKendree -- Last Time Out...
The Bearcats opened the home portion of their 2017 season last Saturday in dominating fashion thanks to a 50-0 victory at Leemon Field against Kentucky State University. McKendree rode the strength of a 29-point second-quarter outburst to build a 36-0 halftime lead on its way to a ninth consecutive win on the home turf. The Bearcats held a 402-260 edge in total offense while adding six quarterback sacks, a safety and an interception return for a touchdown on defense. Special teams also played a key role in the win as the Bearcats posted a kick return and punt return for a score. Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) led the offense for McKendree as he rushed for a game-high 122 yards on 19 carries and also scored a career-high three touchdowns in the win. Linebacker Ricco Gipson (Godfrey, IL/Alton) led the balanced effort on defense with eight tackles, including two for loss. Austin Weltha (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) and Tobias Cook (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) each added seven stops. Weltha and Darion Simmons (Peoria, IL/Peoria) combined to register the Bearcats' safety in the second quarter, while Cook chipped in with a 47-yard pick-six just before halftime. Josh Lovings (Alton, IL/Alton) notched his first career special teams score thanks to a 71-yard kickoff return for a TD following the McKendree safety, while Derrick Curry (Glen Ellyn, IL/Montini Catholic) joined in the fun with a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Hillsdale -- Last Time Out...
The Chargers made their 2017 home debut last Saturday with a 31-27, come-from-behind victory over Michigan Tech. Hillsdale reeled off 21 points in the final 9:46 of play to post the victory. David Graham -- who rushed for a game-high 98 yards on 13 carries -- provided the winning score for the Chargers thanks to his five-yard TD burst with 1:09 to play. Quarterback Chance Stewart was 21-of-37 through the air for 215 yards. Stewart also rushed for a pair of TD's during the Chargers' fourth-quarter rally. Trey Brock hauled in eight passes for 83 yards in the win. Defensively, Spencer Nehls paced the Hillsdale defense with 10 tackles, while Nate Jones added eight tackles and a forced fumble.

Bearcat Tracks...
BEARCATS vs. THE GREAT LAKES STATE: McKendree has a record of 1-2 against programs from the state of Michigan. The Bearcats' lone victory over that time came in its last game against a Michigan opponent, a 27-24 come-from-behind victory at Leemon Field over Northwood University during the 2015 season.

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 wtih an unblemished record at home. With its win over Kentucky State, McKendree has won its last nine contests played at Leemon Field, dating back to the 2015 campaign. The program record for consecutive victories at Leemon Field is 11, which occurred from 2008-10.

SAFETY FIRST (AND SECOND): McKendree registered a safety for the second consecutive game in the win over Kentucky State University. The Bearcats also had one in the 2017 season opener at Angelo State University. That is the first time since 2004-05 that McKendree has recorded safeties in consecutive contests. The Bearcats had one in their NAIA Football Championship Series first-round match-up with Mid-America Nazarene University in the last game of the 2004 season, then had another safety in the 2005 season opener at Leemon Field against Quincy University.

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.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: The Bearcats had both a kick return and punt return for a touchdown in the victory at Leemon Field against Kentucky State. That marks the first time since 2013 that the Bearcats have accomplished that feat. Ryan Keen had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score, and Brendan Walker followed with a 67-yard punt return for a TD in the Bearcats' 32-28 home win against Tiffin University to open the 2013 campaign.

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.

EDWARDS CONTINUES CLIMB UP ALL-TIME RUSHING LIST: In 2016, Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) became the 20th player since McKendree revived its football program in 1996 to rush for 1,000 career yards. Edwards has pushed his career total to 1,577 yards, which is currently 11th on the program's all-time list:
   7) Isaac Fisher -- 1,749 yards
   8) Allen Walter -- 1,692 yards
   9) Joe Beimfohr -- 1,652 yards
   10) Jacob Rohman -- 1,592 yards
   11) Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) -- 1,577 yards
   12) Marlone Chenault -- 1,448 yards

BY THE SACKFUL: McKendree, which led NCAA Division II in sacks per game last season at 4.82, has registered nine sacks in the first two games of the 2017 season. The Bearcats are currenlty eighth among all NCAA Division II institutions this season at 4.50 sacks per outing. Dating back to the 2016 campaign, the Bearcats have recorded multiple sacks in seven consecutive contests.

21 AND OVER: McKendree sports a 125-25 record (.833) 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: 0-0 (2-0)
**Graphite Jersey/Graphite Pants: 1-0 (4-0)
**White Jersey/Purple Pants: 0-0 (0-2)
**White Jersey/Graphite Pants: 0-0 (1-1)
**White Jersey/White Pants: 0-1 (1-0)

CATCHING UP: McKendree wide receivers Darius Crochrell (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) and Dustin Walls (Champaign, IL/Centennial) continue to move their way up the Bearcats' career chart for receptions. Crochrell has moved into seventh place on the team's all-time list for receptions with 69. Walls is in a tie for eighth place on the program's all-time list with former teammate Tyler Brewer (Arnold, MO/Fox) (2013-16) at 68 catches. Byron Gettis sits in sixth place on the McKendree career receptions list with 70, while Pat Doty is in fifth place at 73 catches.

UNDER THE LIGHTS: McKendree has a record of 14-9 (.609) under the lights since 1996. McKendree, which has already played a night contest this season at Angelo State, will have other late starts coming at Missouri S&T on Oct. 21 and at home versus Quincy University on Nov. 4. The four night games played this season by McKendree will be the most for the program since having five contests under the lights during Mike Babcock's first season at the Bearcats' head coach in 2013.

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...
Sept. 16, 2000
McKendree led from start to finish in posting a 45-12 victory at Leemon Field against Malone College. Quarterback Billy Gray threw a pair of touchdown passes to Clyde Brown of 21 and 29 yards, while Brandon Murphy returned the second-half kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. It was the first of the season and sixth of his career for Murphy, who set a McKendree career record with seven. Darius Green led the Bearcats' defensive effort with 10 tackles, while Ronnie Stuart and Joe Bruss each had 1 1/2 sacks in the win.

Sept. 16, 2006
McKendree tied a program record with its largest margin of victory to date (which has since been passed) with a 56-0 win at Leemon Field against Trinity International University. The Bearcats piled up 428 yards of total offense while holding the visiting Trojans to just 85 yards on the day. The McKendree defense scored twice thanks to an Antonio Prendergast fumble recovery in the end zone followed by a 34-yard interception return for score by Michael Harrison. Jay Walton led a balanced rushing attack for the Bearcats with 78 yards, which including a 69-yard TD burst that capped the scoring on the day.