Urbana Stuns No. 15 McKendree
Hannah rushes for 165 yards and a TD
LEBANON, Ill. (Sept. 15, 2007) – For the second consecutive season Urbana has upset McKendree University (1-1). The Blue Knights held off the No. 15-ranked Bearcats, 23-21, Saturday at Leemon Field to improve to 2-1 overall. Last year Urbana knocked off McKendree, 24-19, when the Bearcats were No. 7 in the country, the highest ranked team Urbana has ever defeated.

Urbana started fast, putting up points on its first drive. Junior tailback Kirk Hannah busted loose for a 61-yard gain to the McKendree 16-yard line. Two plays for a loss and a penalty forced the Blue Knights to kick a field goal. Freshman Jacob Harfman drilled a 38-yard attempt, his first collegiate field goal, to put Urbana up 3-0 and the give the Blue Knights the only score of the first quarter.

The Blue Knights started the second quarter just as strong. After junior Matt Branch’s punt was downed at the McKendree seven-yard line, the Urbana defense went to work. Senior Kyle Lockett, junior Emanuel Butters and sophomore Jason Conner combined to push the Bearcat offense back four yards. Forced to punt out of his own end zone, Bret Dougherty fumbled the ball and Urbana’s Chris Rutledge scooped it up for the touchdown, giving the Blue Knights a 10-0 lead with 9:09 to play in the half.

The Bearcats finally found the end zone with a minute to play in the first half, as George Smith caught a pass and took it 48 yards to pay dirt. McKendree took the lead early in the third quarter as Jacob Rohman rushed 15 yards for the go-ahead score, culminating a 55-yard, seven-play drive.

Urbana regained the lead before the end of the third quarter on a Kirk Hannah, two-yard surge on first-and-goal to close out a 13-play, 57-yard drive.

The first play of the final quarter was the game-winner for the Blue Knights. On second-and-16, from McKendree’s 37-yard line sophomore quarterback CJ Westler connected with sophomore Rodney Holmes for the TD to put Urbana up 23-14.

The Bearcats got within two points with eight minutes to play in the game, but the Blue Knight defense came up big. On McKendree’s final drive of the game Urbana forced two incomplete passes and held the Bearcats to two yards on fourth-and-three at their own 42-yard line with 27 seconds to play.

Hannah finished the game with 165 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Holmes rushed for 46 yards and caught three passes for 50 yards, including the 37-yard TD reception. Westler was 9-of-25 for 119 yards. Lockett led the defense with nine tackles, including eight solos and a TFL of five yards. Sophomore Justin Stechenfinger added seven tackles, including three TFL. Senior Rasul Basit had six tackles and an interception. Conner added an interception. Travis Brisco and Chris Rutledge each had a fumble recovery.

Urbana (2-1) hosts St. Francis, Ill, (0-3) Saturday, Sept. 22 with a noon kickoff at Ellis Field for the Blue Knights’ home opener.

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