POST-GAME VIDEO WITH COACH MIKE BABCOCK

(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 14)—The McKendree University football team lost a close battle Saturday afternoon with Michigan Tech, 24-19, in the Bearcats' 2019 home opener at Leemon Field.
 
The Bearcats trailed by 14 points in the later stages of the third quarter and nearly overcame an 11-point deficit in the final six minutes against the visiting Huskies in front of a crowd of 1,663 fans. McKendree got the ball back one final time in the closing moments, but could not complete the comeback.
 
McKendree, which is now 0-2 on the season, will continue its four-game home stand next Saturday (Sept. 21) when the University of Indianapolis comes to Leemon Field for the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both squads.
 
"I thought there were some sparks out there where we showed we can be a very good football team," said McKendree head coach Mike Babcock following Saturday's contest. "But we have to find a way to put it together. We had a nice drive late in the game that brought us within a touchdown, got the ball back and were driving at the end. Now we have to find a way to finish. That was a tough one for us today, and we have another tough game coming up at home next week."
 
Freshman quarterback Turner Pullen (Shelbyville, IL/Shelbyville) threw for 176 yards and a pair of scores, including a 12-yard TD strike to freshman wide receiver Tyler Siever (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) with 4:04 to play. Senior wide receiver Kyle Harris (Chicago, IL/King College Prep) had the Bearcats' other touchdown catch of the day, a 17-yarder from Pullen midway through the third quarter.
 
Michigan Tech (2-0) broke a scoreless tie late in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown burst by Jordan Ferguson. McKendree answered on its next possession when junior running back Jace Franklin capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 12-yard scoring run. Junior kicker Josh Lazaro (Bradley, IL/Bradley-Bourbonnais) tacked on the extra point to bring the Bearcats even at 7-7.
 
A deflected pass led to an interception in the late stages of the second quarter for Michigan Tech, which turned into the go-ahead score on the next play when quarterback Will Ark scrambled into the end zone from 16 yards out to give the Huskies a 14-7 advantage. Michigan Tech then took the second half kickoff and shaved nearly eight minutes off the third-quarter clock before scoring again to stretch its lead to 21-7.
 
Sophomore defensive back Kenneth Garrett., Jr., ripped off a 68-yard kickoff return following the Huskies' score to set up the Bearcats' next score. Pullen scrambled out of the pocket and connected with Harris on the 17-yard TD toss that brought McKendree within 21-13 with 4:50 remaining in the period.
 
After Michigan Tech pushed its lead to 24-13 on a field goal with 6:10 left, McKendree looked to mount one final comeback. For the third time on the day, the Bearcats followed a Huskies' score with one of their own. This time, Pullen threw a short pass over the middle to Siever, who broke two tackles and tumbled into the end zone for a 12-yard TD reception. McKendree's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Bearcats with a five-point deficit.
 
Siever closed the day with a game-high eight receptions for 56 yards totaling 56 yards for McKendree. Franklin caught five passes out of the backfield for 39 yards. Pullen was 18-for-38 in the passing department for 176 yards for the Bearcats. Pullen also led the McKendree ground game with 40 yards on 10 carries.
 
Senior linebacker Ricco Gipson, Jr. (Godfrey, IL/Alton), and sophomore defensive back Devon Myles (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) shared team-high honors with nine tackles apiece for McKendree. Senior linebacker Jason Bennett, Jr. (Peoria, IL/Peoria), contributed eight stops and registered the Bearcats' first interception of the season at the goal line to thwart another potential scoring drive for Michigan Tech early in the fourth quarter.