LEBANON, Ill. – The 60
th season of McKendree University football kicks off on Thursday, September 5
th in Pensacola, Florida at the University of West Florida.
Game Information
- 6:00 p.m. kickoff
- Pensacola, Florida (PenAir Field)
Series History
The Bearcats and Argonauts met for the first-time last year on Leemon Field in week 2 and UWF took the contest by the score of 35-3.
Bearcat Coaching Staff
McKendree alum Jason Rejfek was named Interim Head Coach on August 6th. Coach Rejfek spent the previous five seasons as the defensive coordinator while working with the defensive backs. Returning from last season is offensive coordinator, Nick Miller and offensive line coach, Nick Holeton.
Wide Receivers coach Zahneer Shuler joined the Bearcats during the spring of 2024 after spending two years at Notre Dame College (Ohio). Coach Shuler worked with the receivers where he mentored several all-conference receivers. He played collegiately at the University of New Mexico and Lackawanna College.
Mason Keeler is the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach since joining the McKendree staff in the spring of 2024. Prior to joining the Bearcats, he was the Special Teams Quality Control at Division I Eastern Illinois University.
Linebackers coach Thad Washington was hired in August of 2024. Coach Washington had a stint at Grambling State University. He played for the University of Colorado and spent some time in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills.
The Bearcats' defensive coordinator, Opetaia Tuiava is in his second stint at McKendree. He was previously with the Bearcats from 2021-23. In between his stays in Lebanon, he's been the defensive line coach with Avila University (NAIA) and a Bill Walsh Minority Intern with two NFL franchises.
Scouting the Bearcats
McKendree had a tail of two seasons during their 2023 campaign. The Bearcats started the year 0-5 and finished the regular season 5-5. With the five-game win streak to finish the season, they earned the program's first-ever Division II postseason bid to the America's Crossroads Bowl. During GLVC play, they went 5-2 and tied for 2nd place in the conference.
Back to lead the offense is Caleb Fisher who went 171 for 279 while throwing for 1,650 yards and 19 touchdowns. His top target is first-team all-conference receiver Yogi Flager, Jr. after catching 41 passes for 406 yards. In total, the Bearcats return an impressive 20 of 22 starters from the 2023 season. Tailback Eddie Clark is back for another season after carrying the ball 153 times for 614 yards and found the end zone six times.
Returning on the defensive side of the ball are the top three tacklers from last year in Andrew Sherry, Ja'Markus Gary and Logan Turbyfill. Those three combined for 210 tackles, and 15 TFLs.
Scouting the Argonauts
After going 8-4 last season, the West Florida Argonauts sit 12th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason poll. Under center, they will have a new quarterback as they lost Peewee Jarrett to the NFL. Meanwhile, they return running back Jamontez Woods who had 102 carries for 565 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. Their top returning receiver is Zac Offord who was third in receiving yards on the team with 237 on 16 catches.
On the defensive side, the top returning tackler is linebacker Walker Robinson who registered 61 tackles (41 solo). Byron Puryear also returns after posting 36 tackles, 10 TFLs and five sacks in 2023.
