(MARQUETTE, Mich., Sept. 7)—The McKendree University football team was defeated Saturday afternoon at Northern Michigan University in the 2019 season opener for both squads, 30-9.
 
The host Wildcats outscored the Bearcats 20-0 in the second half to pull away for the non-conference win. McKendree, now 0-1 on the young season, will return to Lebanon to begin a four-game home stand next Saturday with a visit from Michigan Tech. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Leemon Field.

"We knew going into the game it was going to be a battle," said McKendree head coach Mike Babcock. "We got off to a really good start, especially in the first quarter. But we're a young team, and we made some key mistakes at critical times that are the sign of a young team. Overall, I thought we continued to grind and battled out there. Northern Michigan put together a strong second half, and you have to give them credit."
 
McKendree jumped out to a quick start in the first 10 minutes of action. The Bearcats deferred the opening kickoff, and on Northern Michigan's second play from scrimminage, Senior linebacker Ricco Gipson, Jr. (Godfrey, IL/Alton), forced a fumble. Junior defensive end Brandon Purnell (Chicago, IL/Simeon) pounced on the loose ball at the Wildcats' 16-yard line to set McKendree up in the red zone. Seven plays later, the Bearcats faced a fourth-and-goal at the Northern Michigan one-yard line. The Wildcats were able to hold on defense to keep the contest scoreless.
 
On its next drive, McKendree grabbed its only lead of the afternoon. Freshman quarterback Turner Pullen (Shelbyville, IL/Shelbyville) connected with freshman wide receiver Jacob Bachman (Eureka, IL/Eureka) on a 28-yard touchdown pass to push the Bearcats out to a 6-0 advantage with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Northern Michigan (1-0) kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive to pull within 6-3 before capitalizing on a McKendree turnover to take the lead. Quarterback Ryan Johnson found Ryan Knight for a 22-yard scoring strike with just nine seconds remaining in the period to give the Wildcats a 10-6 lead.
 
Junior kicker Josh Lazaro (Bradley, IL/Bradley-Bourbonnais) scored the only points on the second quarter as he booted a 20-yard field goal midway through the period to help McKendree pull within 10-9. Lazaro, a first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection last year, was 13-of-16 in field goal trips in 2018.

The Wildcats then controlled the scoreboard in the second half, putting up 14 third-quarter points before sealing the win with a touchdown with just over 10 minutes remaining. Saturday's win enabled Northern Michigan to avenge a 34-28 loss to McKendree in the 2018 season opener at Leemon Field.
 
Junior Jace Franklin led McKendree with 45 rushing yards on 16 carries. Pullen finished the contest by completing 15-of-26 pass attempts for 133 yards. His favorite target was Bachman, who caught a game-high four passes for 50 yards. 
 
Gipson led the Bearcats' defense with 14 tackles, while Purnell added nine stops including a sack to go along with his fumble recovery. Senior defensive lineman Michael Smith (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) helped out with eight tackles, while sophomore defensive back Kenneth Garrett, Jr. (Memphis, TN/Whitehaven), senior linebacker Jason Bennett, Jr. (Peoria, IL/Peoria), and sophomore defensive back Devon Myles (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse College Prep) each contributed six tackles for McKendree.