Lebanon, IL - McKendree University Football opens up its 2025 campaign by traveling on Thursday, August 28th to Terre Haute, Indiana's Memorial Stadium to battle an FCS Division-I opponent in the Indiana State Sycamores. Kickoff from Terre Haute is set for 5:00 PM central.
BROADCAST LINKS
WATCH LIVE (ESPN+ - $)
LISTEN LIVE (GoSycamores.com)
LIVE STATS (StatBroadcast)
GAME TICKETS (Ticketmaster.com)
REWINDING TO 2024
McKendree finished the 2024 season with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Bearcats were among the league's most competitive teams down the stretch, with four of their final five games decided by one score. Along the way, McKendree showcased one of the GLVC's most balanced offenses and ranked in the top three of the conference in both total offense and total defense. Head Coach Jason Rejfek (McKendree '12) is back for a second year at the helm after having the interim tag removed at the 2024 season's conclusion.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Grad student quarterback Ty Michael (O'Fallon, IL) returns after pacing the GLVC with 2,542 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024, providing veteran leadership under center. In the backfield, junior running back Eddie Clark (Peoria, IL) established a new single-season program rushing record with 1,151 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning a spot on this season's D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List.
Defensively, junior linebacker Nick Bova (Troy, MO) totaled 63 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss a year ago, while senior defensive end Tanner Hollerich (O'Fallon, IL) added 24 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss to anchor the Bearcats' pass rush.
SCOUTING INDIANA STATE
Indiana State begins the 2025 season looking to build on a 4-8 finish in 2024, highlighted be a signature 35-31 win over then-#15 ranked North Dakota. The Sycamores were especially strong at home, going 4-2 inside Memorial Stadium. Offensively, redshirt sophomore quarterback Elijah Owens closed last season as a dual-threat performer, throwing for 168 yards and rushing for 124 in the finale at Northern Iowa. Complimenting Owens in the backfield is redshirt junior Plez Lawrence, who amassed 412 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, plus 218 receiving yards and three more scores during the 2024 campaign.
On the defensive side, the Sycamores return senior defensive tackle Logan Wilson, who provides size and experience up front after recording 27 tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss in 2024. In the secondary, senior safety Kimal Clark brings veteran leadership, adding 41 tackles and two interceptions last fall. All in all, the Sycamores enter with an experienced roster under ninth-year head coach Curt Mallory (Michigan '91), ready to test itself against the Bearcats.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
For the Bearcats
Thursday's matchup provides another opportunity to go up against an FCS opponent and chase the program's first victory at that level since defeating Dayton in 1999. The Bearcats are (1-2) all-time against opponents that were FCS affiliated at the time of the game (Western Illinois, Drake, Dayton), having faced Western Illinois just last season. A strong showing would build momentum heading into the home opener next Saturday against Hillsdale and a challenging GLVC slate as well.
For the Sycamores
The season opener marks the start of a season which features a demanding Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule that includes several nationally-ranked opponents, including traveling to the FBS #20-ranked Indiana Hoosiers on September 12th and hosting FCS #1-ranked North Dakota State on October 18th. The Sycamores will look to build off of that 4-2 record within the confines of Memorial Stadium in 2024, while using this game to fine tune their operations in advance of MVFC play.
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