LEBANON, Ill. – The Bearcats wrapped up the 2023 regular season by hosting the William Jewell College Cardinals on Saturday, November 11th. After leading 7-0 at the half, McKendree secured the 35-14 win with two late defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
McKendree finished the season with an overall record of 5-5 (5-2 GLVC). This is the most wins in the GLVC since the 2017 when they won five games as well.
After a slow offensive start to the game, Caleb Fisher found Brylan Apholone on a seven yard touchdown pass to put the Bearcats up 7-0.
In the second half, Eddie Clark made it 14-0 on an eight-yard run early in the third quarter. Clark ecplised the 100-yard plateau for the first time this season as he ended the game with 27 carries for 129 yards. Fisher found Chase Wells with seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0 McKendree.
In the fourth quarter, WJC answered back with two scores of their own to make it a 21-14 game. With under two minutes left, the Bearcat defense decided to get in on the scoring. Tanner Hollerich found a fumble by the Cardinal QB and Trevon Stokes returned the fumble for a scoop-and-score. On the next WJC possession, Ethan Young picked off a pass and returned it 31 yards to make it 35-14 McKendree.
The Bearcats will await their postseason fate as they await news on a possible bowl bid to the America's Crossroads Bowl in Hammond, Indiana.
Before the game, McKendree recognized eight seniors: Drew Crooks, Ryan Kastl, Josh Bleich, Matt Murphy, Michael Showers, Ben Sommer, BreeZian Wilson, and Trevon Stokes.
