LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree Bearcats opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play by hosting the Truman State Bulldogs, who were receiving votes in the latest AFCA poll. Behind three pick-sixes, the Bulldogs pulled away with the win by the score of 56-24.
TSU struck for two touchdowns in the opening quarter, one by each side of the ball. With five minutes and 44 seconds left, Nolan Hair found Christopher Kerr for the 25 yard pass. Just a minute later, Thomas Spaulding picked off the Caleb Fisher pass for a 19 yard interception return to make it 14-0 Bulldogs.
McKendree got on the board early in the 2nd quarter with Fisher finding Yogi Flager, Jr. for his first of two touchdown catches today. With just over three minutes to go before the half, Ryan Kastl converted on a 37 yard field goal to make it 14-10 TSU, which was set up by a Nehemiah Hicks interception in Bulldog territory.
The Bulldogs extended the lead as they scored 35 unanswered points to make it a 49-10 lead. Jarred Park found Flager, Jr. for a 53 yard TD strike with 12:47 left in the game to make it 49-17. After stopping the TSU offense, McKendree found the end zone once more as Park hit David Richard for the 12 yard TD pass.
Tim Johnson, Jr. capped off the scoring as he made it 56-24 with under a minute to go.
The Bearcats will hit the road next week to Bolivar, Missouri and Southwest Baptist for a 1:00 p.m. kick.
