GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE at INDIANAPOLIS -- Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, 6 p.m. ET
Key Stadium -- Indianapolis, Ind
VIDEO PREVIEW WITH COACH BABCOCK
LISTEN LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
WATCH LIVE (Indianapolis Broadcast)
LIVE STATS
McKENDREE GAME NOTES
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
INDIANAPOLIS GAME NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS SEASON STATISTICS
GLVC STATISTICS
(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 18)--The McKendree University football team will make its final trip into the Eastern time zone this season when the Bearcats head to central Indiana to take on the University of Indianapolis. Kickoff for the Great Lakes Valley Conference contest is set for 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT). The Bearcat Sports Network will have the live broadcast at
www.glvcsn.com/mckendree, beginning with the pre-game show at 5:45 p.m. ET (4:45 p.m. CT).
McKendree put together a big second-half rally last Saturday at Southwest Baptist University in posting a 26-23 overtime victory. The Bearcats trailed 17-0 after the first quarter, but used a 24-yard, game-tying touchdown from freshman quarterback
Antonio Triplett (Florissant, MO/Hazelwood Central) to senior wide receiver
Jalyn Williams (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale) in the final minute to force overtime. After SBU used a short field goal to grab a three-point advantage at the start of the extra period, Triplett plunged into the end zone from a yard out to complete the comeback and send McKendree to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in GLVC play.
Defense played a big role in McKendree's victory at Southwest Baptist. After allowing Southwest Baptist 110 yards of total offense in the first quarter, McKendree limited the hosts to just 149 yards for the final three quarters plus overtime. The Bearcats also turned an interception by senior defensive back
James Young II (University Park, IL/Crete Monee) into a touchdown just before halftime. Offensively, senior running back
Preston Thompson (Hazel Crest, IL/Tinley Park) registered his fourth 100-yard game of the season as he rushed for 122 yards on 18 carries, including an explosive 28-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Triplett came into the contest midway through the second quarter and rushed for 77 yards while throwing for 72 on 6-of-14 passing at SBU.
Ricco Gipson, Jr. (Godfrey, IL/Alton), led the Bearcats' defensive effort with a game-high 13 tackles along with a forced fumble. Junior defensive lineman
Michael Smith (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) and junior linebacker
Kennith Wilson (Chicago, IL/Simeon) each chipped in with nine stops.
In the latest NCAA Division II statistical report, McKendree ranks in the top 10 in five different categories. The Bearcats are tied for the nation's lead in blocked punts allowed (0), when they are fourth in passing interceptions (2). McKendree continues to excel in red zone offense in 2018 as it sits seventh in Division II at 93.5 percent. The Bearcats are also eighth in team passing efficiency (165.94 rating) and ninth in completion percentage (.645).
Senior quarterback
Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) holds down five top-10 rankings in the NCAA Division II individual statistics report. He is fifth with 21 passing touchdowns and sixth in points responsible for (152), points responsible for per game (21.7 PPG) and is seventh in seventh in passing efficiency (169.8 rating). Metcalf is also eighth in completion percentage (.660). Smith is sixth among all Division II players with two blocked kicks, while sophomore kicker
Josh Lazaro (Bradley, IL/Bradley-Bourbonnais) is 15th in field goal percentage (.800).
Following the trip to UIndy, McKendree will return to the friendly confines of Leemon Field for its next two games. The Bearcats will host William Jewell College next Saturday (Oct. 27) for Homecoming before wrapping up the regular-season home slate Nov. 3 against Missouri S&T.
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS
The Greyhounds, ranked No. 16 in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II poll, brings a 5-1 overall record and a five-game win streak into Saturday's match-up. Indianapolis leads the GLVC with a 4-0 record. The Greyhounds notched their fifth consecutive win last Saturday evening at Quincy University with a 35-7 triumph. Quarterback Jake Purichia threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns to lead an offense that produced 483 yards against the host Hawks. Malik Higgins led the UIndy receiving corps with seven catches for 84 yards, while Toriano Clinton rushed for a game-high 106 yards on 11 attempts. Defensively, Connor Steeb led a balanced effort for the Greyhounds with seven tackles.
Through six games, Al McKeller leads UIndy in rushing with 605 yards and six touchdowns. Purichia has completed nearly 62 percent of his pass attempts for 1,017 yards with 11 touchdowns. Higgins is the Greyhounds' top receiver with 32 catches for 477 yards with eight touchdowns. Defensively, Joe Lambright leads the way for Indianapolis with 55 tackles, while Steeb has notched 40 stops. Blake Luker has all three interceptions this season for the Greyhounds.
UIndy has won each of the previous six meetings against McKendree, including last year's 28-10 decision at Leemon Field on Oct. 7, 2017.
