GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE at WILLIAM JEWELL -- Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, Noon
Greene Stadium -- Liberty, Mo.

LISTEN LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
WATCH LIVE (William Jewell Broadcast)
LIVE STATS
WILLIAM JEWELL PREVIEW WITH COACH BABCOCK

McKENDREE GAME NOTES
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
WILLIAM JEWELL GAME NOTES
WILLIAM JEWELL SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 21)--The McKendree University will kick off its 2017 Great Lakes Valley Conference ledger on Saturday when the Bearcats visit Liberty, Mo., to face William Jewell College. Kickoff is set for noon at Greene Stadium. The contest can be heard live on the Bearcat Sports Network (www.glvcsn.com/mckendree) beginning with the pre-game show at 11:45 a.m.

The Bearcats will take a 2-1 overall record to William Jewell following a 24-21 victory last Saturday at Hillsdale College in Michigan. McKendree took control of the contest in the fourth quarter, holding a 78-5 edge in total offense while holding the host Chargers without a first down over the final 15 minutes of play. Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) ran for a game-high 100 yards, including a 20-yard scoring run on a fourth-down play early in the second quarter. Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel), who threw for 194 yards in the effort, also ran for a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winning 12-yard burst with just over three minutes remaining in the third period. 

Defensively, McKendree rode the performance of its linebacking corps to the win. Ricco Gipson (Godfrey, IL/Alton) registered a team-high 13 tackles, while Kyle Kirkpatrick (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) was right behind with 12 stops. Austin Weltha (Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) chipped in nine tackles, including two for loss, as the Bearcats notched their second consecutive win. 

William Jewell will be in search of its first victory in the 2017 season on Saturday. The Cardinals bring a record of 0-3 into the contest following a 55-17 loss in non-conference action last Saturday versus the University of Findlay. Quarterback Brad Strauss completed 23-of-40 pass attempts for 261 yards along with a touchdown. Strauss also gained a team-best 42 yards on the ground against Findlay, which racked up 587 yards of total offense and 37 first downs against the William Jewell defensive unit. Isaac Dozier paced the Cardinals' defense with 11 tackles. 

Saturday's game will mark the fifth meeting all-time between McKendree and William Jewell. The Bearcats have emerged victorious in each of the previous five contests, including last season's 28-14 triumph at Leemon Field. 

McKendree will begin its sixth season of competition in the GLVC with Saturday's contest. The Bearcats and Cardinals were the only league teams to play in non-conference contests last week. McKendree is 3-2 all-time in GLVC openers. 

The McKendree-William Jewell contest will also wrap up a grueling season-opening stretch for the Bearcats. McKendree will play three of its first four games of the year away from home. The Bearcats will return to Leemon Field next Saturday to begin a two-game home stand against Southwest Baptist University on Homecoming. The University of Indianapolis will provide the opposition on Oct. 7 before McKendree returns to the road Oct. 14 for its final non-conference tilt of the year at Davenport University. 

McKENDREE-WILLIAM JEWELL GAME NOTES
2017 Records --
McKENDREE: The McKendree University Bearcats are 2-1 overall and 0-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
WILLIAM JEWELL: The William Jewell College Cardinals are 0-3 and 0-0 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 (27-18 at McKendree and overall).
WILLIAM JEWELL: Shawn Weigel is in his third season as the head coach of the William Jewell Cardinals (5-19 at William Jewell and overall).

The Series (since 1996) --
The Bearcats have won all five meetings against the Cardinals, including last season's 28-14 victory at Leemon Field:
   2012 -- McKENDREE 35, William Jewell 20 (at Leemon Field)
   2013 -- McKENDREE 29, William Jewell 24 (at Liberty, Mo.)
   2014 -- McKENDREE 41, William Jewell 20 (at Leemon Field)
   2015 -- McKENDREE 41, William Jewell 23 (at Liberty, Mo.)
   2016 -- McKENDREE 28, William Jewell 14 (at Leemon Field)

McKendree -- Last Time Out...
The Bearcats battled to a 24-21 non-conference victory last Saturday at Hillsdale College. A 12-yard touchdown run by quarterback Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) with just over three minutes left in the third quarter turned out to be the game-winning score as McKendree notched its second consecutive victory. Metcalf also ran for another score and completed 20-of-34 pass attempts for 194 yards in the win. Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) rushed for a game-high 100 yards on 24 carries, which included a 20-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play in the second quarter. Jalyn Williams (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale) had a team-leading six receptions for 40 yards against the Chargers. Ricco Gipson (Godfrey, IL/Alton) led the Bearcats' defensive effort with 13 tackles, while Kyle Kirkpatrick (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) chipped in with 12 stops. Darion Simmons (Peoria, IL/Peoria) had the lone sack of the evening for McKendree.

William Jewell -- Last Time Out...
The Cardinals dropped a 55-17 non-conference decision last Saturday at home against the University of Findlay as the visiting Oilers put up 587 yards of total offense in the contest. Brad Strauss threw for 261 yards to lead the way for William Jewell as he completed 23-of-40 pass attempts. Strauss also led William Jewell with 42 rushing yards on nine carries. Trejuan Mask had a team-best five receptions as 10 different Cardinals had at least one catch in the effort. Isaac Dozier topped all William Jewell defenders with 11 solo tackles. Quayde Bauman added eight solo stops, including three for loss.

LAST MEETING -- McKendree vs. William Jewell...
On Sept. 24, 2016 at Leemon Field, McKendree built a 21-point lead through three quarters of play and opened Great Lakes Valley Conference action for the year with a 28-14 victory over William Jewell. Brandon Wildman (Monticello, IL/Monticello) threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, while Elcee Burke ran for a team-high 56 yards on 14 carries. Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) chipped in with 55 yards on the ground with a two-yard touchdown burst in the third quarter. Matt Cole (Chicago, IL/Curie) caught a 68-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring early in the first quarter for the Bearcats. A.J. Wentland (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) paced the McKendree defense with 10 tackles along with an interception. Jabaree Winston (Chicago, IL/Simeon) and Blake Benoist (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) each added nine tackles for the Bearcats, who had six sacks on the day.

Bearcat Tracks...
CONFERENCE IN SESSION: Since the Bearcats returned to the gridiron in 1996, this will be the 19th season that McKendree will be holding a conference affiliation. The Bearcats are 13-5 all-time in conference openers, which includes a 3-2 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree was 10-3 in the first game of their conference schedule while members of the Mid-States Football Association-Midwest League from 1998-2010.

BEARCATS vs. THE SHOW-ME STATE: McKendree has a record of 17-10 against teams from the state of Missouri since 1996. The Bearcats are 7-6 on the road against teams from the Show-Me State during that span. Since the beginning of the 2014 season, McKendree has won 12 of its last 15 games against Missouri programs.

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 CRACKS TOP 10 ON ALL-TIME RUSHING LIST: In 2016, Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) moved into the top 10 on the Bearcats' career rushing list thanks to his 100-yard performance at Hillsdale College. Edwards now has 1,677 yards at McKendree, which is good for ninth all-time:
   5) Louis Harden -- 1,874 yards
   6) Jarrod Karnes -- 1,825 yards
   7) Isaac Fisher -- 1,749 yards
   8) Allen Walter -- 1,692 yards
   9) Shayeen Edwards (East St. Louis, IL/Cahokia) -- 1,677 yards
   10) Joe Beimfohr -- 1,652 yards
   11) Jacob Rohman -- 1,592 yards

BY THE SACKFUL: McKendree, which led NCAA Division II in sacks per game last season at 4.82, has registered 10 sacks in the first three games of the 2017 season. The Bearcats are currenlty 23rd among all NCAA Division II institutions this season at 3.33 sacks per outing.

21 AND OVER: McKendree sports a 126-25 record (.834) when scoring at least 21 points in a game since the beginning of the 1996 season.

UNI-TRACKER: We will once 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: 1-0 (0-2)
   **White Jersey/Graphite Pants: 0-0 (1-1)
   **White Jersey/White Pants: 0-1 (1-0)

CATCHING UP: McKendree wide receivers Dustin Walls (Champaign, IL/Centennial) and Darius Crochrell (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) continue to move their way up the Bearcats' career chart for receptions. Wall is now in sixth place on the McKendree all-time list with 72 receptions, while Crochrell is in a tie for seven place with 70 catches. Walls needs one catch to tie Pat Doty for fifth place on the Bearcats' career list. In addition, Walls has 961 receiving yards as a Bearcat, which is good for sixth place all-time. He needs 39 yards to become the sixth McKendree receiver with 1,000 career yards.

UNDER THE LIGHTS: McKendree has a record of 15-9 (.625) under the lights since 1996. McKendree, which has already played a night contests this season at Angelo State and at Hillsdale, 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. 23, 2000
In a battle of NAIA top-10 programs, No. 9-ranked McKendree defeated third-rated St. Francis (Ind.) 24-18 at Leemon Field. The Bearcats struck early on a pair of short touchdown runs by Kyle Roach. Roach added a third scoring burst early in the fourth quarter before Allen Walter capped the McKendree scoring on a two-yard TD run with 5:39 to play. Roach rushed for a game-high 91 yards while Walter added 86 yards. The Bearcats set program records (that still stand today) with 82 rushing attempts and a time of possession of 45:22.

Sept. 23, 2006
The Bearcats nearly overcame an 18-point, fourth-quarter deficit at Urbana University before falling to the host Blue Knights, 24-19. Trailing 24-6, McKendree started its comeback with a one-yard touchdown run from Dan Loudenslager. Later in the period, Dominique Jones scored on a five-yard jaunt to trim the margin to five points, but the Bearcats' final drive ended at the Urbana 38-yard line as time expired. Loudenslager threw for 148 yards in the contest, while Ryan Klier led the McKendree defense with 10 tackles.