LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree University football team conducted its lone scrimmage of fall camp here Sunday afternoon in front of nearly 400 fans at Leemon Field.
Sunday's scrimmage, which was held 11 days before the Bearcats' 2022 season opener on Sept. 1 at Northern Michigan, featured about 80-85 plays as the offense went up against the defense.
"I saw some good things out there today on both sides of the ball," McKendree head coach
Mike Babcock said following the nearly two-hour scrimmage that completed the preseason portion of fall camp. "I thought the guys really got after it."
For the scrimmage, the Bearcats offense unofficially picked up 425 yards of offense and scored seven touchdowns and saw junior kicker
Ryan Kastl (Washington, Ill./Washington) make two field goals on the day.
Along with having the offense facing off against the defense, the Bearcats also worked on punting, punt coverage and kickoffs during Sunday's scrimmage.
After the first three offensive possessions of the scrimmage ended without any points and a total of 35 yards on 12 plays, the Bearcats offense finally got going on its fourth possession as the No. 1 unit ran 12 plays and gained 48 yards, before the drive stalled at the 17-yard line. The drive, though, results in Kastl connecting on a 34-yard field goal. On the drive, redshirt junior quarterback
Turner Pullen (Shelbyville, Ill./Shelbyville) was 3-for-4 passing for 24 yards, while the big play on the drive was a 22-yard run by redshirt sophomore running back
Jayden Mitchell (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South).
The first touchdown of the scrimmage came on the seventh possession as redshirt sophomore running back
Donavan Bieber (Columbia, Ill./Northern Illinois) capped a 12-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. The big play on a that drive a 21-yard pass play from sophomore quarterback
Jarred Park (Glen Ellyn, Ill./College of DuPage) to receiver receiver
David Richard (Wentzville, Mo./Liberty).
On the next possession, the No. 1 offense would finally find the end zone on a 30-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back
Narkel Leflore (Chatham, Ill./Chatham).
The No. 2 offense, which was directed by redshirt freshman quarterback
Ty Michael (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township), made the score 22-0 on the next offensive possession of the scrimmage as redshirt freshman running back
Trevion Jenkins (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 5-play, 25-yard drive.
The No. 1 offense would add a score on the next possession as Pullen connected with sophomore receiver
Yogi Flager, Jr. (Belleville, Ill./Butler University) for a 5-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal play.
Pullen would complete the No. 1 offense's day on the next possession as Kastl connected on a 24-yard field goal to make the score 32-0.
The No. 4 offense, which was directed by redshirt freshman quarterback
Jack Hogan (Decatur, Ill./St. Teresa), would add a touchdown on the 14th offensive possession of the scrimmage as Hogan hooked up with Richard for a 65-yard touchdown pass. The 65-yard play was the longest of the scrimmage.
Park would direct another scoring drive on the ensuing possession as sophomore running back
Ronnie Hunsaker (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) sprinted up the middle 23 yards for a touchdown. Hunsaker finished with four carries for 37 yards on the day.
The final score of the game came on the 16th offensive possession as freshman running back
EJ Dickerson, Jr. (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Country Day) capped a 3-play, 40-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. The big play on that drive was a 32-yard pass from Hogan to redshirt junior receiver
Kylan Martin (Humboldt, Tenn./Murray State). Hogan went 3-for-7 passing for 92 yards in the scrimmage.
Pullen finished the scrimmage going 7-for-10 passing for 49 yards and added five carries for 14 yards on the day. In addition to Pullen, Michael was 5-for-8 passing for 58 yards and Park was 6-for-8 for 64 yards to lead the Top 3 offensive units.
In addition to Hunsaker, Mitchell had four carries for 36 yards, while Leflore finished with seven carries for 23 yards. Overall, 16 different players carried the ball at least once in the scrimmage.
The offense had 15 different receivers catch a pass in the scrimmage with Richard and sophomore tight end
Jordan Sprycha (Oak Lawn, lll./Oak Lawn Community) each catching three passes. Jenkins, Flager, Jr, Martin and sophomore receiver
Diontay Griffin (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) each caught two passes. Richard finished the day with 93 receiving yards to lead the way.
McKendree will return to the practice field on Tuesday, Aug. 23, following an off-day Monday for the first day of classes. The Bearcats will open its 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 in Marquette, Mich., against Northern Michigan University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Central.
FALL SCRIMMAGE SCORING (Unofficial stats)
(Sunday, August 18, 2022 – Leemon Field)
Ryan Kastl 34-yard field goal (11 plays, 48 yards)
Donavan Bieber 1-yard run (12 plays, 65 yards)
Narkel Leflore 30-yard run (1 play, 30 yards)
Trevion Jenkins 2-yard run (5 plays, 25 yards)
Turner Pullen 5-yard pass to
Yogi Flager, Jr. (5 plays, 25 yards)
Ryan Kastl 24-yard field goal (3 plays, 1 yard)
Jack Hogan 65-yard pass to
David Richard (2 plays, 65 yards)
Ronnie Hunsaker 23-yard run (4 plays, 40 yards)
EJ Dickerson, Jr. 3-yard run (3 plays, 40 yards)
