LEBANON, Ill. - The Lincoln football team rushed for 194 yards and controlled the ball for over 40 minutes, but McKendree took advantage of an opportunistic defense to hand the Blue Tigers a 36-12 loss on Saturday (Oct. 28).

McKendree (6-3, 4-1 GLVC) got on the board less than two minutes into the game, using a 62-yard return on the opening kickoff to set up an eight-yard touchdown pass. Lincoln (1-7, 0-5 GLVC) got into McKendree territory on its first possession, courtesy of a 12-yard reception by Blake Tibbs, but ended up being forced to punt.

After forcing the Bearcats to punt it away, Lincoln had an opportunity to tied the game, as a 10-yard by Terry Hunter put LU back onto the McKendree side of the field while a five-yard completion by Drake Davidson to Franklyn Richardson later pushed the ball down to the 16. A six-yard rush by A'Jani Johnson moved LU to inside the 10, but an interception in the end zone finished out the drive.

On the ensuing possession, a Lincoln penalty on a McKendree punt gave the Bearcats new life, which resulted in a 41-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead. Later in the second quarter, the Bearcats struck again on a 10-yard pass, but Taj Moore blocked the point-after try and Lincoln held McKendree's lead to 16-0. It was the seventh blocked kick of the season by the Blue Tigers.

McKendree used a 61-yard fumble return to make it a 23-0 lead at halftime, but the Blue Tigers got on the scoreboard early in the third. LeAngelo Bradley forced a fumble which Willard Cotton recovered to set Lincoln up at the McKendree 41, and a 31-yard run by Travis Martin moved LU down to the two. Miles Drummond then pushed the ball for Lincoln's first touchdown of the afternoon.

Lincoln's other score came in the fourth quarter, when Lawrence Hogue punched the ball loose after a five-yard McKendree receptions. Cody Alexander scooped up the ball at the Bearcat 47 and ran untouched into the end zone for his second touchdown of the 2017 season.

The Blue Tigers finished with more first downs (19-16), more rushing yards (194-171), more completions (19-13), and more third and fourth-down conversions (11-3) than McKendree. The Bearcats were 3-for-3 in their red zone opportunities, however, and were able to take advantage of three LU turnovers.

Martin led all rushers in the game with 123 yards, and Johnson gained 30 while Kimbo Ferguson added 18. Davidson gained 30 total yards on the ground and threw for 74 yards on the day. Tibbs had five receptions and 28 yards to lead the Lincoln receiving corps, but his presence on special teams had a greater impact, as he averaged nearly 30 yards on kickoff returns. Wolky Belancourt, meanwhile, had four of his six punts pin McKendree inside the 20, with three landing inside the 10.

Cotton and Julius Jackson each had five tackles apiece, and Aaron Brown, Edwin Durassaint and Isaiah Gray were each credited with four. JaJuan Chambers also forced a fumble, and Victor Williams made the recovery.

Lincoln will play in front of its home crowd for the final time in 2017 next Saturday (Oct. 28), with the Blue Tigers hosting William Jewell at 1:00 p.m. CT. It will be Senior Day, with 15 Blue Tigers making their final appearance at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.