Lebanon, IL - In one of the more wild installments yet of the Battle for the Land of Lincoln, it was Truman who defeated Quincy.
Freshman kicker
Truman Carnine drilled a 39-yard field goal in overtime to send the McKendree University Football team pouring onto the field Saturday afternoon, as the Bearcats (2-3, 2-1 GLVC) outlasted the Quincy Hawks (2-3, 1-1 GLVC), 46-43, at Leemon Field. The win was part of McKendree's first overtime game since defeating Upper Iowa during the 2023 season.
Carnine was perfect when called upon, connecting from 38, 41, and 39 yards while also converting all five of his extra-point attempts. His game-winner capped an afternoon in which the Bearcats led by as many as 14, surrendered the lead, regained it, and ultimately needed overtime after Quincy tied the game with 17 seconds remaining.
BEARCATS COME OUT FIRING
McKendree wasted little time setting the tone offensively.
Charlie Blondin, who had briefly stood in for
Kendrick Lyons being attended to on the sideline, promptly threw a 25-yard touchdown to
Michale Sutton to finish a 74-yard opening drive before Quincy answered on Collin Parsons' 71-yard touchdown run.
The Bearcats responded with two touchdowns in less than four minutes. Lyons connected with
Brylan Apholone for a 30-yard score, and following a Quincy three-and-out,
Jerry Richardson exploded for a 72-yard touchdown run on McKendree's first play of the ensuing possession.
Just 8:48 into the afternoon, McKendree held a 21-7 advantage.
Quincy chipped away throughout the second quarter, but McKendree continued to answer. Carnine's 38-yard field goal pushed the lead to 24-13 before Bradyn Little found Derrick Miller for a 39-yard touchdown.
The Bearcats then put together a nine-play, 52-yard scoring drive, capped by
Izaias Primus' one-yard touchdown run for a 31-20 advantage. Quincy answered with a 91-yard drive in the final 1:55 of the half, scoring with nine seconds remaining to cut McKendree's halftime lead to 31-27.
SPECIAL TEAMS SWINGS THE MOMENTUM
Quincy took its first lead early in the third quarter when Little connected with Elijah Genenbacher for a 28-yard touchdown to make it 33-31.
What followed became one of the afternoon's defining moments.
Aden Chase blocked the ensuing extra point, with
Mylan Nettles scooping up the loose ball and racing 83 yards the other direction for a defensive two-point conversion, immediately tying the game at 33.
It was McKendree's second blocked PAT of the day after
Kaleb Randolph denied Quincy earlier in the second quarter.
Carnine then put the Bearcats back in front, capping a 12-play possession with a 41-yard field goal for a 36-33 advantage.
RICHARDSON RUNS WILD
Richardson supplied another explosive play early in the fourth quarter, breaking loose for a 30-yard touchdown to give McKendree its largest lead of the second half at 43-33.
The Collinsville native was the centerpiece of a dominant Bearcat rushing attack, finishing with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, while adding another 23 yards through the air.
Primus added 49 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Lyons chipped in 39 as McKendree amassed 287 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries.
Quincy answered Richardson's second touchdown with a 67-yard catch-and-run from Parsons to pull within 43-40, then recovered an onside kick at the McKendree 33.
The Bearcat defense responded. On fourth-and-three from the McKendree 26,
Darren Pennell broke up Little's pass attempt, turning the Hawks over on downs.
Quincy would get another chance late, however, driving inside the McKendree red zone. A potential go-ahead touchdown was erased by an illegal forward pass penalty before Joe Reif connected from 31 yards with 17 seconds remaining, tying the game at 43-43.
ROBINSON SETS IT UP, CARNINE ENDS IT
Quincy received the ball first in overtime and gained two yards on its opening play.
It would get no further.
On the second down,
Johnnie Robinson stepped in front of Little's pass for McKendree's first interception of the season, returning it 64 yards before overtime rules placed the Bearcats at the Quincy 25 for their possession.
Richardson carried twice for four yards before an incomplete pass brought Carnine onto the field on fourth down.
From 39 yards away, the freshman never flinched.
Carnine split the uprights, the McKendree sideline emptied, and the Top Hat remained in Lebanon.
McKendree has now defeated Quincy in consecutive seasons, with both games decided by a late Bearcat field goal. Last season,
Chase Reeves' 44-yarder with 5:44 remaining gave McKendree a 24-21 victory in Quincy.
UP NEXT
McKendree remains at Leemon Field on Saturday, October 10th, when the Bearcats welcome Southwest Baptist for Homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
