LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree (3-3, 2-1 GLVC) hosted the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats on homecoming Saturday and came away with the win by the score of 37-14. Propelled by 309 yards of offense on the ground, McKendree led 27-0 at the half and never looked back. This is the first game since 2014 that McKendree has gained 300-plus yards of rushing.
The McKendree defense also came to play as they picked off the SBU quarterbacks six times: Andrew Sherry and Drew Ellis with two each, Tanner Hollerich and Nehemiah Hicks registered the other two interceptions.
McKendree got the scoring started on a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Ty Michael finding Brylan Apholone on a 19-yard touchdown pass. After the McKendree defense picked off their first SBU pass, Kaleb Barry hit a 40-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 game.
As the game moved to the second stanza, Eddie Clark found the end zone on a 9-yard run to put McKendree up 17-0. With the quarter winding down, Michael hit Kendall Abdur-Rahman on a screen pass as he scampered in from 25-yards out to put McKendree up 24-0. Barry rounded out the first half scoring with a 29-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the half.
SBU got on the board early in the 3rd quarter, but McKendree answered right back. Michael found Abdur-Rahman again, this time from 36-yards out to make it a 34-7 game. Barry hit his third field goal of the afternoon early in the fourth quarter, from 29-yards out.
Stat Leaders
Eddie Clark: 17 carries for 131 yards, TD
Ronnie Hunsaker: 14 carries for 87 yards
Kendall Abdur-Rahman: 6 catches for 95 yards, 2 TDs
Andrew Sherry: 3 tackles, 2 INTs
Sam Amponsah: 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, Sack
