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Mathew Kirby

Football Brendan Bittner

GAMEDAY CENTRAL: Hawks, Bearcats Battle For Illinois

McKendree University Bearcats (6-3, 4-2 GLVC) at Quincy University Hawks (5-4, 3-3 GLVC)
Quincy, IL | QU Stadium
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2016 | 1 p.m.
ILLINOIS D-II BATTLE: The Quincy University football team returns to QU Stadium for just the second time since September as the Hawks take on GLVC rival McKendree. Quincy and McKendree boast the only NCAA Division II football programs in Illinois. 

RECENT HISTORY: The Hawks and Bearcats have played four times since both joined the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2012. The Hawks won the first meeting that year, 38-19, in the first head coaching win for Tom Pajic. The Bearcats have gone on to win the last three matchups, including a 56-30 win over the Hawks in Lebanon, Ill. last season. On McKendree's last trip to Quincy, the Hawks scored the final touchdown of the game, but the Bearcats came out with a 28-21 win at Flinn Stadium. McKendree leads the all-time series, 13-4.

LAST WEEK: The Hawks went on the road to take on rival Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., falling to the Bulldogs, 38-28. Senior wide receivier Eric Poindexter (Newport News, Va./Warwick/Monroe College) accounted for all four of QU's touchdowns, setting a school record and matching a GLVC record with four touchdown receptions. His touchdowns went for five, 60, 69 and 65 yards, respectively, scoring one in each quarter. The Hawks out-gained the Bulldogs, 382-321, but were not able to establish the run game, picking up just 71 yards on the ground. With the emphasis on the air attack, the Hawks threw three interceptions and lost the turnover battle, 3-2.

TOP DEFENSE: The Hawks still rank as the top defense in the GLVC, allowing just 315.4 yards per game. Quincy has allowed just two opponents to gain 400 yards of offense and none over 467 yards. Last season, the Hawks were last in the league in total defense, giving up 457 yards per game. They allowed six teams to gain 400 yards, including two that gained more than 600.

RECORD SETTER: Poindexter is the program's all-time leader in receiving yards and has a chance over his final two games to reach the 3,000-yard mark in just three seasons at QU. He is currently the NCAA Division II career leader among active players with 95.0 receiving yards per game. With his four touchdowns last week, Poindexter matched Justin Dickens (2010-13) for the most touchdown catches in a season (12, 2012) and in a career (31). With 20 receiving yards this week, he would break the single-season receiving mark, currently held by Josh Breitbach set in 1995 (1,143). Poindexter also ranks third in Division II in receiving yards (1,124) and all-purpose yards per game (190.3). Earlier this season against William Jewell, Poindexter set school and GLVC records with 20 receptions and 317 yards, while making three touchdown catches.

A.B. ON THE EDGE: Redshirt-junior Adehkeem Brown (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue) has made a name for himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in the GLVC this season. He ranks second in the conference with four interceptions on the season, including one in last week's defeat against Truman. Brown also has three pass breakups and has 27 tackles on the season. He leads a unit that ranks second in the conference with 12 total interceptions. Nine different players have intercepted a pass this season.

HOLD THAT FLAG: The Hawks have been the most disciplined team in the GLVC when it comes to penalties. They average just 42.4 penalty yards per game and have just five flags thrown against them per game. Their penalty yardage mark ranks ninth in the country. 

THIRD DOWN: Saturday's game may come down to which defense can get off the field on third down. McKendree and Quincy rank 1 and 2 in the GLVC in third down defense, respectively. The Bearcats allow a 29.5 percent conversion rate, while the Hawks sit at 31.5 percent. Offensively, QU is second in the GLVC in third down conversions at 44.1 percent. The Bearcats are sixth (32.5 percent).

KEEPING THE BALANCE: The Hawks have been most successful this season when they have been able to establish the run and maintain a balanced offensive attack. While redshirt-sophomore quarterback Robbie Kelley (Rochester, Ill.) still threw for 311 yards last week, he was intercepted three times, which may have been a result of not being able to rely on the running game. Two of the picks came on third down. For the season, Kelley ranks second in the GLVC in passing efficiency, completing 57.8 percent of his passes for 2,143 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. 

UP NEXT: The Hawks play their final game of the 2016 season next Saturday (Nov. 12) when they welcome Missouri S&T to QU Stadium. Kickoff on Military Appreciation Day will be at 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Adehkeem Brown

#5 Adehkeem Brown

CB
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Robbie Kelley

#3 Robbie Kelley

QB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Eric Poindexter

#13 Eric Poindexter

WR
5' 11"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Adehkeem Brown

#5 Adehkeem Brown

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
CB
Robbie Kelley

#3 Robbie Kelley

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Eric Poindexter

#13 Eric Poindexter

5' 11"
Senior
WR