GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE vs. MISSOURI S&T -- Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, 1 p.m.
Leemon Field -- Lebanon, Ill.
VIDEO PREVIEW WITH COACH BABCOCK
WATCH LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
LIVE STATS
McKENDREE GAME NOTES
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
MISSOURI S&T GAME NOTES
MISSOURI S&T SEASON STATISTICS
GLVC STATISTICS
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 1)--The McKendree University football team will close out the home portion of its 2018 season on Saturday when Missouri S&T visits Leemon Field for a Great Lakes Valley Conference battle. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Prior to Saturday's contest, the Bearcats will hold their annual Senior Day activities where they will honor 17 players appearing in their final home game. The game will air live on the Bearcat Sports Network at www.glvcsn.com/mckendree, beginning with the pre-game show at 12:45 p.m.
McKendree continued its Homecoming magic last Saturday thanks to a 47-31 victory over William Jewell College at Leemon Field. The Bearcats rolled up a season-high 574 yards of total offense and rode the strength of record-setting performances from
Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) and
Jalyn Williams (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale) to the win. Metcalf threw for a school-record 391 yards in the contest while adding four touchdown passes to four different receivers. Metcalf boosted his season total to 25 TD passes this season to become the Bearcats' single-season leader in the category. One of Metcalf's touchdown strikes was a 74-yarder to Williams, and was one of two TD passes of at least 70 yards in the outing for Metcalf. Williams now has eight TD receptions in 2018 to establish a new McKendree standard.
Preston Thompson (Hazel Crest, IL/Tinley Park) joined in the fun as he rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. It marked Thompson's fifth 100-yard effort of the season and pushed his season total to 905 rushing yards, which is the sixth-highest figure in program history.
Defensively, McKendree registered a pair of quarterback sacks against the Cardinals and three other quarterback pressures.
Ricco Gipson, Jr. (Godfrey, IL/Alton), added to his team lead in tackles for 2018 as he paced the Bearcats with 11 stops in last Saturday's win.
Shelby Benn (Lansing, IL/Brother Rice) and
Michael Smith (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) each added seven stops.
In the latest GLVC statistical report, McKendree continues to lead the league in scoring offense (35.9 PPG), total offense (455.9 YPG), passing offense (250.0 YPG) and passing efficiency (167.5 rating). The Bearcats top the GLVC's eight teams in punting (38.0 yard net average), first downs (21.8 per game) and red zone offense (91.9 percent). Metcalf sits atop the league statistical report in passing offense (269.9 YPG), passing efficiency (179.5 rating) and total offense (274.8 YPG). Thompson is second in rushing offense (100.6 YPG) while
Jace Franklin (Sprinfield, IL/Williamsville) is seventh in the same category (62.9 YPG). Williams and
Josh Revay (Livermore, CA/Granada) are tied for fourth in the league in receptions per game (4.2 P/G). The Williams/Revay duo are also ranked in the top five in receiving yards per contest. Williams is fourth at just over 66 yards per game, while Revay is right behind in fifth at 48.2 YPG. Defensively, Gipson sits fourth in the GLVC in tackles at 9.1 per outing.
McKendree will wrap up its 2018 season a week from Saturday with a trip to Jefferson City, Mo., to take on Lincoln University. Kickoff will take place at noon.
ABOUT MISSOURI S&T
The Miners are receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II coaches poll thanks to a 7-2 overall record and a 4-1 mark in GLVC action. Missouri S&T's lone loss in the conference came at home to 14th-ranked Indianapolis, 24-17, back on Oct. 6. The Miners, like McKendree, boast a high-powered passing game led by senior quarterback Tyler Swart. He ranks right behind Metcalf in the latest GLVC report in passing offense (235.2 YPG) and total offense (225.2 YPG). His favorite target this season is another Missouri S&T veteran, Braxton Graham, who has 45 receptions for 800 yards with 10 touchdowns through nine games. Deshawn Jones leads the Miners' ground attack with 605 yards and seven TDs.
The Missouri S&T defense is led by Landon Compton, who has registered a team-high 77 tackles. Bo Brooks, who is next with 67 tackles, has posted team-leading totals of 16 1/2 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 quarterback sacks. Brooks and Tershawn Wharton each have two interceptions this season, while Wharton has also contributed 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage with five sacks.
McKendree and Missouri S&T have split their six meetings since the Bearcats joined the GLVC in 2012. The Bearcats have won each of the last two contests, including last season's 39-31 triumph in Rolla, Mo., on Oct. 21, 2017. Three of the last four games between the two programs have been decided by one possession.
