MOUNT PLEASANT – Iowa Wesleyan College committed five turnovers and nationally ranked McKendree (Ill.) University worked a short field on a number of drives to defeat the Tigers 40-0 on Saturday at Mapleleaf Stadium.
The 22nd-ranked Bearcats pulled out to a 24-0 halftime lead to win the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League opener for both teams. McKendree improved to 3-1 this season and dropped Wesleyan to 1-3 on the year.
The Tigers moved the ball better than in recent weeks and even furnished a 100-yard rusher, as Jaren Maybin (Sr.-Baltimore, Md.) carried the ball 21 times for 103 yards. A combination of turnovers, mistakes and a number of injuries took their toll, though, against one of the favorites to win the MSFA Midwest this year.
McKendree had just one scoring drive longer than 46 yards and took advantage of great field position from the start. The Bearcats scored their first touchdown just 53 seconds into the game, taking over in good field position and scoring four plays later on a two-yard run by Joe Beimfohr.
The Bearcats added a second touchown near the end of the first quarter when Marlone Chenault scored from 10 yards out. IWC then stiffened in the second quarter, limiting the Bearcats to just a field goal in the quarter until late. McKendree went 69 yards in seven plays in just 1:29, scoring when tight end Byron Gettis got behind the defense for a 13-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the half.
McKendree scored twice in the third quarter, again taking advantage of very short fields. A 32-yard field goal by Jordan Fark came at the end of a six-play, 35-yard drive, while a five-yard touchdown run by Aaron Barnett capped an eight-play, 46-yard drive late in the quarter.
The Tigers missed several scoring opportunities early in the fourth quarter. An apparent touchdown after Kevin McConnell (Fr.-Kansas City, Mo.) connected with Lawrence Moore (Jr.-Country Club Hills, Ill.) on a 13-yard scoring pass was called back by a penalty. Wesleyan then missed a 32-yard field goal attempt by Scott Baldwin (Sr.-Penn Valley, Calif.), who was handling kicking duties after regular kicker Josh Feliciano (So.-San Diego, Calif.) was injured on the opening kickoff.
McKendree added a final score late in the fourth as Antonio Greer returned an IWC fumble 16 yards for a touchdown with 5:33 remaining in the game. The Tigers finished with turnovers on four of their final five possessions.
Maybin finished with a season high in yards rushing and rushed for 100 yards in a game for the fifth time in his career. The senior also moved into seventh on the all-time IWC rushing yardage list, passing Don Lewis (1957-59) for seventh. Maybin now has 1,459 yards rushing in his career.
McConnell completed 19 of 26 passes for 93 yards in his first collegiate start. He found Moore nine times for 56 yards, while Brian Farmer (Sr.-Bronx, N.Y.) added a career-high six catches. The Tigers finished with 198 of total offense.
Darious Watson (Jr.-Bellwood, Ill.) played another terrific game on defense and finished with 10 tackles (six solo). Kris Fleming (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) and Gerald Knighten (Sr.-Bellwood, Ill.) both added seven tackles each.
IWC attempts to bounce back next week against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) in another MSFA Midwest League game. Game time at Mapleleaf Stadium will be 6 p.m.
For more information regarding the IWC football program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Box score #22 McK 40 IWC 0
