LEBANON, Ill. – The Bearcats hosted the Miners of Missouri S&T during their annual homecoming game on Saturday, October 21st at Leemon Field. In a series that has come down to the final minute in each of the last few matchups, continued that trend. McKendree escaped with their first win of the season at home by the score of 20-17. This was the first time in seven years that McKendree has defeated S&T on Leemon Field.
McKendree improves their record to 2-5 (2-2 GLVC), while S&T falls to 2-6 (2-2 GLVC).
The Bearcats would get the ball first and the offense would put together a long drive. Eddie Clark from two yards out put McKendree up 7-0 to cap a 16 play, 77 yard drive that took eight and a half minutes off the clock. McKendree got the ball back with 46 seconds left in the opening quarter after a short punt by the Miners. Clark found the end zone once more to give the Bearcats a 14-0 lead.
The Miners sustained a long drive of their own in the 2nd quarter that spanned 78 yards over 12 plays and cut the lead in half at 14-7.
After Logan Turbyfill forced a Miner fumble on the second play from scrimmage in the 2nd half, McKendree took over at the S&T 39-yard line. Ryan Kastl converted on a 22-yard field goal to put the Bearcats up 17-7. The Miners answered right back as Gunnar Palacios hit CJ Jarmon on a 45-yard TD pass to make it a 17-14 game. The Miners kicker Layne Ryals tied the contest at 17 a piece on his 47-yard try.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kaleb Barry took advantage of the wind at his back and some bounces as he flipped the field pinning the Miners at their own one yard line. Three plays later, McKendree got the ball back in prime field position at the S&T 25-yard line. That led to the Kastl go-ahead 33-yard field goal with 5:48 left in the contest.
McKendree will continue GLVC play as they head to Quincy University on Saturday, October 28th for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff.
