INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On the road for the final time in the 2023 season, took the Bearcats to the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds who had an unblemished 8-0 (5-0 GLVC) record coming into the contest. The Greyhounds also sat ranked eighth in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll.
For the first time in program history, the Bearcats were able to defeat the Greyhounds by the score of 21-16. This is also the first win in McKendree's NCAA Division II history in which they have defeated a top 25 team.
After McKendree limited UIndy to a field goal on the opening drive, the offense found a groove. Caleb Fisher found Avery Quigley for an 18-yard touchdown pass, which is his first TD of the year. That capped off a 14-play, 75-yard drive to put the Bearcats up 7-3.
The start of the second quarter saw Elijah Felton pick off Greyhound QB Gavin Sukup for a touchback. After the Bearcats were forced to punt on the ensuing drive, UIndy was driving again, but the McKendree defense forced a fumble and recovered. With 7:25 left in the first half, Fisher found Kendall Abdur-Rahman on a go route for the 51-yard touchdown pass to put McKendree ahead 14-3. After the Greyhounds were forced to punt, Fisher found Abdur-Rahman again, this time on a 74-yard TD strike to make it a 21-3 game. Abdur-Rahman finished the game with 5 catches for a career high 138 yards with the two scores.
The Bearcats defense bent, but did not break in the second half. On two separate occasions, the defense was able to turn the ball over on downs. The first time was a goal line stand early in the fourth quarter with the score standing at 21-10.
UIndy made it a 21-16 game with three minutes and forty-four seconds to go in the ball game. With 90 seconds to go, Ethan Young picked off the Sukup pass to seal the deal for the Bearcats.
The Bearcats will wrap up the 2023 season by hosting the William Jewell Cardinals on Saturday, November 11th with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. McKendree will honor nine seniors prior to the contest.
