INDIANAPOLIS – Upset-minded William Jewell handed the No. 23 UIndy football team (9-2, 7-1 GLVC) a heartbreaking 27-24 loss on Senior Day Saturday evening at Key Stadium. The result, which came in the final regular-season game of the season, not only left the Greyhounds' postseason status unclear, but also marked the first GLVC loss for the team in 23 conference games since the league began sponsoring football in 2012.

On a clear but chilly evening, the Hounds pulled within three with just 47 seconds left on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Connor Barthel to Logan Young, but Jewell recovered the ensuing onside kick and eventually converted a 1st down to seal the win.

After trailing 6-3 at the half, the Hounds took their first lead of the evening with a Matt Ripp touchdown early in the third quarter. UIndy, which amassed just 107 yards in the first 30 minutes, marched 51 yards on six plays to open the second half.  Ripp had 34 yards on five carries on the drive, including his two-yard score.
 
The teams traded touchdowns from there, with Jewell eventually taking a 20-17 lead with 8:41 to go. The Cardinals (5-6, 5-3) seized the momentum by forcing a pair of punts before upping the lead to 10 with just 2:29 remaining.
 
Now down two possessions, the Hounds got the quick score they needed when Young stretched over the plain to trim it to a field goal. Five different Greyhounds made catches on the series, including a 26-yard reception by Kevin Teglia that set up the score.
 
With just 46 ticks on the clock, UIndy's first on-side kick of the season of eminent, but the Cardinals' hands team recovered the attempt without incident. The Hounds still had three timeouts to burn, but Jewell's successful conversion on 3rd & 3 iced it.
 
On the initial drive of the game, the Cardinals hung a six-spot on the scoreboard to take the early lead while also matching their point total from the last two UIndy games combined.
 
Jewell converted two 4th-down attempts on the lengthy 19-play possession, including one on a fake punt, before reaching the end zone with an eight-yard pass from DJ Balazs to Quentin Riser. The extra point try was no good.
 
The Hounds got on the board late in the first quarter with a 37-yard field goal by Scott Miller, the reigning GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week. The three points were all UIndy would muster in the first 30 minutes, its lowest first-half total of the year.
 
Prior to the game, UIndy honored seniors Eddie Antonietti, Doug Beresford, Michael Brandes, Phil Brinkman, Evan Crouch, Eric Hollingsworth, Greg Johnson, Scott Miller, Koby Orris, Pavel Polochanin, Matt Ripp, Andre Smith, John Strickland, Greg Wedow and Logan Young. As a group, they compiled a 36-11 (.766) mark over the past four years, good for a program record for wins over any four-year span.  The win-loss record also included a stellar 21-2 record at Key Stadium.
 
For the game, Ripp finished with 120 all-purpose yards, including 98 rushing yards on just 13 carries (7.7 yds per). Reece Horn and Teglia combined for 11 receptions for 153 yards, while Barthel was 19-for-34 passing for 213 yards and a TD.
 
Defensively, Rob Dury led all players with 16 tackles, followed by Jake Grossnickle with 13 and John Strickland with 12.

UIndy must wait until tomorrow evening to learn its postseason fate. The NCAA D-II football championship selection show airs on NCAA.com/live Sunday at 5 p.m.