(FRANKFORT, Ky., Sept. 8)—Senior quarterback Reece Metcalf (Mount Carmel, IL/Mount Carmel) set a new career-high with four touchdown passes – all in the first half -- to help the McKendree University football team to a 34-17 victory Saturday afternoon at Kentucky State University.
 
Metcalf was 18-of-22 through the air for 260 yards as the Bearcats raced to a 2-0 start for the third time in four seasons. Freshman wide receiver Steven Towns, Jr. (Normal, IL/Normal Community), registered his first two collegiate TD receptions, including a 75-yarder just before halftime that staked McKendree to a 27-10 lead at the intermission. On the day, Metcalf completed his first 11 pass attempts and accounted for all four of his incompletions in the second quarter.
 
Senior running back Preston Thompson (Hazel Crest, IL/Tinley Park) rushed for a game-high 126 yards on 14 carries, including a 65-yarder in which he broke three tackles down the right sideline in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
 
The McKendree defense rose to the occasion at key times in the second half, stopping the host Thorobreds on three fourth-down conversion attempts in the second half.
 
"We really had big moments on both sides of the ball today," said McKendree head coach Mike Babcock. "I was impressed with how well our offense executed today, especially in the first half. Just like last week, our defense came up with the stops we needed just at the right time. I'm glad we were able to get a road win against a very talented team in Kentucky State."
 
McKendree jumped out to a 14-0 lead by scoring on each of its first two possessions on Saturday. The Bearcats took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards in seven plays, and Metcalf capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown strike to Towns just 2:45 into play. Sophomore kicker Josh Lazaro (Bradley, IL/Bradley-Bourbonnais) added the extra point to give McKendree a quick 7-0 advantage.
 
After holding Kentucky State (0-2) to a three-and-out on its first drive of the day, McKendree drove 64 yards in nine plays to extend its cushion. Three straight rushing attempts by Thompson put the ball at the Thorobreds' 20-yard line. On the next play, Metcalf found senior tight end Zach Bobos (Lowell, IN/Lowell) open near the five-yard line. Bobos grabbed the pass and carried two defenders into the end zone to give the Bearcats a 14-0 lead.
 
Kentucky State scored 10 unanswered points in the early stages of the second quarter to rally within 14-10. With just 2:38 left until halftime, Metcalf threw his third touchdown pass of the day – a 13-yard connection with senior wide receiver Josh Revay (Livermore, CA/Granada) – to push the Bearcats' lead back to 20-10. Kentucky State's next drive stalled at midfield, and McKendree regained possession of the ball at its own 25-yard line with 39 seconds left in the half.
 
On the next play, Metcalf found Towns over the middle at the Thorobreds' 40-yard line. Towns shook off one tackle and outraced the safeties to the end zone for the Bearcats' longest offensive play of the young season – and the longest TD strike of Metcalf's career at McKendree. Lazaro's point after gave the Bearcats a 27-10 lead with 27 seconds remaining until the intermission.
 
Following a scoreless third quarter, McKendree scored its final points of the afternoon courtesy of Thompson's second-longest run in a Bearcat uniform. In the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Thompson took a handoff, broke three tackles down the right sideline and scampered 65 yards to paydirt. The Bearcats' 24-point lead was short-lived as Kentucky State's Michael Nero returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.
 
Meanwhile, the Bearcats' defense came up big with its fourth-down stops of the Thorobreds, two of which came in the red zone. Junior defensive tackle Peyton Renken (Nashville, IL/Nashville) snuffed out a rushing attempt on fourth-and-goal on the Bearcats' one-yard line midway through the third period. Then after Kentucky State found itself with a first-and-goal at the McKendree three-yard line with just over eight minutes left, the Bearcats' kept the Thorobreds out of the end zone on the first three plays. Junior linebacker Kennith Wilson (Chicago, IL/Simeon) finished off the goal-line stand for McKendree when he stopped Karon Cole on fourth down.
 
Sophomore running back Jace Franklin (Sprinfield, IL/Williamsville) added 66 rushing yards on 15 attempts for McKendree. Metcalf connected with nine different receivers on the day. Bobos, senior wide receiver Jalyn Williams (Carbondale, IL/Carbondale) and junior wideout Matt Cole (Chicago, IL/Curie) each had three catches for the Bearcats.
 
Junior linebacker Ricco Gipson, Jr. (Godfrey, IL/Alton), led the charge defensively for McKendree with nine tackles. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Purnell (Chicago, IL/Simeon) helped out with six stops.  
 
McKendree will put its 2-0 record on the line next Saturday – Sept. 15 – at home against Bowie State University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Leemon Field.
 
BEARCAT TRACKS
**McKendree's most recent 2-0 starts over the last four seasons came in 2015 (wins over West Liberty and Northwood) and in 2016 (wins over Angelo State and West Liberty)
**The Bearcats scored 34 points for the second consecutive game in Saturday's win at Kentucky State. The last time McKendree posted the same point total in back-to-back games was in 2005 (in identical 52-0 triumphs over Ohio Dominican and Quincy)
**McKendree improves to 8-1 all-time against teams from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including a perfect 8-0 mark in regular-season.
**Counting Saturday's win over Kentucky State, McKendree is now 10-13 in road openers since returning to the gridiron in 1996.