Lebanon, IL - Despite producing 528 yards of total offense and scoring six touchdowns, the McKendree University football team (2-4, 2-2 GLVC) fell to Southwest Baptist (4-3, 3-1 GLVC), 55-45, Saturday afternoon in a high-scoring Great Lakes Valley Conference and Homecoming game at Leemon Field.
McKendree quarterback
Kendrick Lyons threw for 403 yards and three touchdowns, completing 18 of 34 passes while connecting with eight different receivers.
Daryle Jones Jr. led the receiving corps with five catches for 141 yards, while
Michale Sutton hauled in two touchdown receptions.
The Bearcats accumulated 403 passing yards and 125 rushing yards, averaging 8.7 yards per play. McKendree scored touchdowns on all five of its red-zone opportunities and converted seven of 12 third-down attempts, but Southwest Baptist's passing attack and timely scoring drives proved difficult to overcome.
FIRST-HALF OFFENSIVE BATTLE
Southwest Baptist opened the contest with a 72-yard kickoff return that set up a four-play, 17-yard touchdown drive, taking a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
McKendree responded with a field goal on its opening possession before moving ahead 10-7 on a two-play, 71-yard scoring drive. A 56-yard completion from Lyons to
Quincy Hall Jr. highlighted the possession, which concluded with a Bearcat touchdown at the 9:32 mark of the opening quarter.
Southwest Baptist reclaimed the lead with an 88-yard touchdown drive. The visitors extended their lead to 21-10 late in the quarter when they connected for a 75-yard touchdown.
McKendree answered in the second quarter with an 86-yard scoring march, highlighted by a 54-yard reception from Jones Jr. and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Lyons to
Kamren Schumacher, trimming the deficit to 21-17.
After Southwest Baptist added a 27-yard field goal, McKendree assembled another scoring possession late in the half. Lyons found Sutton for a 24-yard touchdown with 1:52 remaining, pulling the Bearcats even at 24-24.
The tie was short-lived, however, as Southwest Baptist covered 85 yards in just 52 seconds, taking a 31-24 advantage into halftime on a 36-yard touchdown reception.
SBU CONTINUES TO ANSWER IN THE SECOND HALF
Southwest Baptist extended its lead to 38-24 early in the third quarter following a 15-yard touchdown run.
McKendree responded with one of its longest sustained drives of the afternoon, traveling 85 yards in nine plays while consuming 6:49 of game time. The possession featured a 45-yard reception by
Jerry Richardson and several productive rushes from
Izaias Primus, before Richardson finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run to bring McKendree within 38-31.
Southwest Baptist quickly restored their two-touchdown lead on a 68-yard touchdown pass.
McKendree again answered, moving 75 yards in five plays. A 46-yard connection between Lyons and Jones Jr. helped set up Sutton's second touchdown reception of the afternoon, a two-yard completion that reduced the deficit to 45-38 with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Southwest Baptist carried its next possession into the fourth quarter, converting a fourth-and-three opportunity with a five-yard touchdown pass to make the score 52-38.
McKendree needed just three plays to respond, moving 62 yards and closing within seven points once again. A 35-yard completion from Lyons to
Kendric Johnson advanced McKendree deep into Southwest Baptist territory before offensive lineman
Connor Liescheidt recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown with 11:23 remaining.
Southwest Baptist added a field goal with 6:10 to play, extending its advantage to 55-45.
McKendree had two additional possessions in the closing minutes but was unable to cut into the deficit. A 41-yard field goal attempt with 38 seconds remaining was unsuccessful, allowing Southwest Baptist to secure the 10-point victory.
Lyons, Jones Jr. Highlight Offensive Production
Lyons' 403-yard passing performance led a McKendree offense that recorded 24 first downs and produced 528 total yards, just 11 fewer than Southwest Baptist's 539.
Jones Jr. finished with a team-high 141 receiving yards on five receptions, including gains of 54 and 46 yards. Sutton caught three passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns, while Hall Jr. added 64 yards on two receptions.
Johnson contributed 53 receiving yards on two catches, Schumacher finished with three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, and Richardson added a 45-yard reception to complement his rushing touchdown.
On the ground, Primus paced McKendree with 53 yards on 10 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. Richardson added 23 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Nick Bova led the Bearcats with 14 total tackles, including four solo stops and a shared sack. Darren Pennell followed with 11 tackles, including five solo stops.
Mylan Nettles and Jackson Barnhart each finished with five tackles, while Bova and Karter Woodard combined for McKendree's lone sack of the afternoon.
Up Next
McKendree returns to the road on Saturday, October 17, traveling to Rolla, Missouri, for a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup against Missouri S&T. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
