Lebanon, IL - The McKendree University Football team returns to Leemon Field on Saturday afternoon for the Battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy, welcoming in-state rival Quincy University for a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup. Saturday marks the 28th meeting between the programs, with McKendree holding a commanding 21-6 advantage in the all-time series. The Bearcats also took last year's meeting in Quincy, 24-21.

GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: Quincy (2-2, 1-0) at McKendree (1-3, 1-1)
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
Kickoff: 3 p.m. CT
Location: Lebanon, Illinois
Stadium: Leemon Field
Watch: GLVCSN ($)
Listen: 105.1 WGEM-FM
Live Stats: Sidearm Sports
Tickets: UniversityTickets

BEARCATS RETURN HOME
Saturday will mark just McKendree's second home game through the opening five weeks of the season. The Bearcats opened the year with road trips to Saginaw Valley State and Hillsdale before returning to Leemon Field for a 35-31 victory over then-(RV) Indianapolis on September 19th. McKendree then went back on the road last weekend for a 28-21 setback at William Jewell. 

Despite the result in Liberty, the Bearcats produced their most complete offensive output of the season, totaling 424 yards and outgaining William Jewell by 135. McKendree ran for a season-high 169 yards, converted nine of 16 third-down opportunities and held the Cardinals to just one conversion in nine tries. 

The difference came in possession swings. McKendree turned the football over four times, including twice after fourth-quarter defensive takeaways, while William Jewell turned those opportunities into 14 points. 

Even with the loss, the Bearcats return to Lebanon having shown the ability to move the football against a William Jewell team that enters Week Five unbeaten and receiving votes in the AFCA Division II poll.

LYONS LEADS GLVC PASSING ATTACK
Sophomore quarterback Kendrick Lyons continues to sit at the center of one of the GLVC's most productive passing attacks. 

Through four games, Lyons has completed 86 of 142 passes for 1,069 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 267.3 passing yards per game. That figure ranks first in the GLVC, while his 1,124 yards of total offense average out to 281.0 per game. 

McKendree as a team enters Saturday leading the conference in passing offense at 267.3 yards per game and in third-down conversion rate at 50 percent. The Bearcats have converted 27 of 54 third downs through four games, a trend that continued with a 9-of-16 showing last weekend. 

The production has been spread throughout a young receiving corps. Kendric Johnson leads McKendree with 324 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 19 catches, while Quincy Hall Jr. has a team-high 21 receptions for 272 yards and two scores. Daryle Jones Jr. has added 124 yards and a touchdown, with Aiden Jones sitting just behind him at 123 yards.

RICHARDSON PROVIDES A GROUND GAME SPARK
McKendree's passing attack has led the way statistically, but junior running back Jerry Richardson enters the Quincy matchup coming off his best performance of the season. 

Richardson rushed 20 times for 129 yards at William Jewell, breaking loose for a 65-yard touchdown on McKendree's opening possession. He also caught a 16-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, finishing the afternoon with 155 all-purpose yards and two scores. 

The matchup presents another opportunity for McKendree to establish the ground game. Quincy has surrendered 201.3 rushing yards per game through four games, while Wayne State ran for 236 yards in last week's meeting with the Hawks. 

Richardson now leads McKendree with 215 rushing yards and has accounted for three total touchdowns through four games. 

BEARCAT DEFENSE CONTINUES TO CREATE FUMBLES
The Bearcat defense has shown an ability to force the football lose through the first month of the season. 

McKendree has forced five fumbles and recovered four, with its four recoveries leading the GLVC entering Week Five. Josiah Houston, Gerald Floyd, Nick Bova, Cooper Zimmer, and Xavier Valenzuela have each been credited with a forced fumble. 

Bova leads the Bearcats with 32 tackles and two sacks, followed by Darren Pennell with 27 tackles and Mylan Nettles with 26. Pennell also owns McKendree's lone defensive touchdown of the season, returning a fumble 41 yards against Indianapolis. 

Houston and Floyd each recovered fumbles during the fourth quarter last weekend at William Jewell, giving McKendree multiple late opportunities in a one-score game.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Quincy enters Lebanon riding back-to-back victories after opening the year with losses to Concordia-St. Paul and Roosevelt. The Hawks began GLVC play with a 34-27 win over Lincoln before defeating Wayne State 56-35 last Saturday. 

Junior running back Collin Parsons has emerged as one of Quincy's biggest offensive threats, rushing for 482 yards and six touchdowns on just 56 attempts. His 8.6 yards per carry and 120.5 rushing yards per game lead the Hawk ground attack. 

Parsons is coming off a career performance against Wayne State, rushing 19 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns, including a 63-yard score.

Quarterback Bradyn Little has completed 68 of 112 passes for 856 yards with 10 touchdowns against four interceptions this season. Derrick Miller leads the receiving corps with 268 yards, while Tykell Hammers and Elijah Genenbacher have each caught three touchdown passes. 

Quincy was particuarly efficient in last week's victory, converting nine of 12 third downs and scoring on all six of its red-zone opportunities. Little threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while Quincy scored six times on the ground. 

Defensively, Jordan Elmore leads the Hawks with 39 tackles, with Taylin Scott close behind at 37. Quincy has intercepted five passes through four games, led by Eddie Johnson and Brevin Jackson with two apiece. 

A LOOK BACK AT 2025
McKendree will look to continue its recent success in the series after rallying for a 24-21 road victory over the Hawks last October. 

The Bearcats trailed 21-14 at halftime before shutting Quincy out over the final two quarters. An 85-yard touchdown drive tied the game in the third quarter before Chase Reeves connected on a 44-yard field goal with 5:44 remaining to provide the winning points. 

McKendree's defense controlled the matchup, limiting Quincy to just 22 rushing yards and 261 yards of total offense. The Bearcats collected nine tackles for loss, recorded three sacks, and held the Hawks to 2-of-10 on third down. 

Daryle Jones Jr., one of several current Bearcats who contributed in last year's victory, caught a 21-yard touchdown on McKendree's opening drive. 

BATTLE FOR THE LAND OF LINCOLN TROPHY
Saturday's matchup brings together two teams sitting squarely in a crowded early-season GLVC race. 

Quincy enters at 1-0 in conference play, while McKendree sits at 1-1 following its victory over Indianapolis and loss at William Jewell. Through the opening weeks of league action, only William Jewell and Truman State remain unbeaten in GLVC play, leaving plenty still to be decided as the calendar turns to October.