Hawks, Bearcats Square Off Saturday In Quincy

Southwest Baptist University Bearcats (2-3, 1-3 GLVC) at Quincy University Hawks (2-3, 0-2 GLVC)
Oct. 11, 2014 | 1 p.m.
Flinn Stadium - Quincy, Ill.

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QUINCY GAME NOTES (.pdf) | SOUTHWEST BAPTIST GAME NOTES (.pdf)

HOMESTANDING HAWKS: The Hawks wrap up a season-long three-game homestand on Saturday when they play host to Southwest Baptist at Flinn Stadium in the teams' first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup. The Bearcats, out of Bolivar, Mo., are in their first season of GLVC play after joining the league as an associate member in football as part of a scheduling alliance with the Mid-America Athletic Association.

VS. THE BEARCATS: This is the fourth time the teams have met in their history with the Bearcats owning a 3-0 record over the Hawks. It will be Southwest Baptist's first trip to Quincy in the series. The teams have not met since the 2001 season opener when Quincy dropped a 19-0 decision in Bolivar. SBU also beat the Hawks 37-0 in 2000 and 47-6 in the Hawks' first season after being reinstated in 1986.

LOOK AT LAST WEEK: The Hawks dug themselves into a 21-0 hole against two-time GLVC champs Indianapolis and could not climb out as the Greyhounds defeated the hosts, 42-20, at Flinn Stadium. Reece Horn caught the first three touchdowns for UIndy, but the Hawks and 'Hounds played nearly even after that point. Quincy's defense struggled getting of the field on third down as UIndy went 8-for-12 in those situations, including a 44-yard completion on 3rd-and-16 that led to the visitor's final score.

SPECIAL TEAMS SETTING UP: The QU special teams units have rounded into nice form the last two weeks, winning the field position battle in both games. The Hawks' average drive start against the 'Hounds was their own 37, while UIndy's average drive start was its own 29. The QU return game played a big part in that success. Sophomore Eric Poindexter (Newport News, Va./Warwick/Monroe College) returned a punt 38 yards and junior Dante Flowers (St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves) averaged 25.5 yards per kickoff return last week.

STOP THAT SPREAD: The Quincy secondary will be tested this week as the Bearcats come into the game as the league's top passing team, averaging 308.6 yards through the air. The Hawks, meanwhile, maintain the top passing defense in the GLVC, allowing just 184.2 yards per game through the air. In fact, the Hawks lead the conference in total defense, allowing just 298.4 yards per game. They are fifth in scoring defense, surrendering 26 points per game.

POINDEXTER EMERGING: Redshirt-junior quarterback Nick Lonergan (Jacksonville, Ill.) and the QU offense may have found its needed deep threat in Poindexter. The sophomore transfer caught seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown last week against Indianapolis. He caught a 44-yard pass in the second quarter that was Quincy's longest play from scrimmage on the season. Six of his seven catches went for more than 10 yards and gave the Hawks a first down. Poindexter – the reigning GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week – also returned a punt 38 yards to set up Quincy's first touchdown.

SPEAKING OF SPECIAL TEAMS: The QU special teams units have been among the best in the nation in a few statistical categories. The Hawks rank second in the country in punt return average (25.0 per return) and are ninth in punt coverage, allowing teams just 2.55 yards per return.

THIRD DOWN RATES: The Hawks had troubles converting on third downs against Indianapolis and it is a trend that has hurt the offense this season. Last week, Quincy was 3-for-15 (20 percent) on third downs and for the season QU is 24-for-71 (33.8 percent). The Hawks are getting themselves into long third down opportunities. They have converted just 3-for-29 (10.3 percent) from 3rd-and-7 or longer.

PLAYING WITH DISCIPLINE: The Hawks enter this week's game as the least-penalized team in the GLVC, averaging just 5.4 penalties and 45.4 penalty yards per game. Last season, the Hawks were the second-most penalized team in the conference.

HOLD THE BALL: The Hawks rank second in the conference in turnover margin, sitting at plus-3 for the season. Lonergan has thrown just one interception in 136 pass attempts and the Hawks have lost four fumbles. Meanwhile, the defense has forced eight turnovers – five fumbles and three interceptions.

UINDY, TRUMAN RECEIVING VOTES: In this week's edition of the AFCA Division II poll, Indianapolis and Truman State are receiving votes outside the top 25. It is the fourth straight week the Greyhounds have received votes, while the Bulldogs garner recognition for the first time since receiving votes in the preseason poll.

NEXT UP: The Hawks will hit the road next Saturday (Oct. 18) for the first time since Sept. 20 as they travel to Rensselaer, Ind. to take on Saint Joseph's in GLVC action. Kickoff is set for noon. It will be the Hawks' first overnight trip of the season. The Pumas travel to Lincoln this week and are coming off a 14-13 home defeat to Missouri S&T that was settled by a missed extra point in the fourth quarter.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Dante Flowers: RB; 5' 7"; Junior

#5 Nick Lonergan: QB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#13 Eric Poindexter: WR; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#15 Dante Flowers
: 5' 7"; Junior
: RB

#5 Nick Lonergan
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: QB

#13 Eric Poindexter
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: WR

Players Mentioned

#15 Dante Flowers

#5 Nick Lonergan

#13 Eric Poindexter

Players Mentioned

#15 Dante Flowers

#5 Nick Lonergan

#13 Eric Poindexter