UIndy Athletics

LEBANON, Ill. – In a clash of two of the top-three scoring offenses in the GLVC, it was the Indianapolis defense that produced the play of the game.

With the Greyhounds clinging to a 27-24 lead, junior linebacker Jamie Placht jumped an out route and raced 26 yards for a pick-six to seal a 34-24 win for the Greyhounds (5-1, 3-0 GLVC) over McKendree (4-1, 2-1 GLVC) to move into first place in the conference.

It was expected to be a high scoring affair, and the Bearcats wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. McKendree, who entered Saturday as the top scoring offense in the GLVC, won the coin toss and chose to put their high-powered offense on the field to start the game. Three minutes later, quarterback Isaac Fisher capped off a 10-play, 77-yard drive with 19-yard touchdown run.

Indianapolis would respond two possessions later when Brad Schickel connected on a season-long 45-yard field goal to bring the score to 7-3.

Sophomore running back Andrew Walker gave Indianapolis its first lead at 10-7, punctuating a six-play, 61-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown scamper. Walker finished the day with 46 yards on nine carries, but was sidelined for much of the second half with an apparent injury.

That lead wouldn't last long, however. Facing a 4th & 1 from their own 40, McKendree called its quarterback's number once again. Fisher kept the read-option and took it the house for a 60-yard score, his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon.

On the Hounds' ensuing possession, the Bearcats appeared to have intercepted a Connor Barthel pass that deflected off Reece Horn's hands, but a costly roughing the passer penalty allowed the drive to continue. The mistakes continued to mount for McKendree as a defensive holding penalty on 3rd down again kept the Hounds offense on the field.

Indianapolis would eventually capitalize with a five-yard touchdown pass from Barthel to Malik Higgins to put the Hounds back on top, 17-14, midway through the second quarter.

McKendree would tack on a 24-yard field goal from Steven O'Block right before half to knot things up at 17 going into the break.

Just as the Bearcats did on the opening drive of the game, Indianapolis took the second half kickoff and marched 75 yards on 13 plays to retake the 24-17 lead. Barthel tossed his second touchdown pass of the day, connecting with redshirt-freshman Nate Deno for his first career scoring grab.

But the Bearcats would claw back again. Treye Williams finished a 10-play, 89-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 24 with a minute remaining in the third quarter.

From there, the offenses stalled as the teams exchanged punts for the first 10 minutes of the final quarter.

As the end of regulation neared, Barthel engineered what proved to be the game-winning drive. The Hounds started at their own 28 and converted on two separate third downs to put Schickel in position to knock home a 36-yard field goal to put Indianapolis up 27-24.

Placht, a native of nearby St. Louis, would later put the exclamation mark on the victory with the pick-six to seal it. Lee Campbell and Dillon Dallas earned a nine-yard sack the play before to set up the omnious 3rd & long situation for the Bearcats.

The win moves the Hounds to 3-0 in GLVC play and the lone team to remain undefeated in conference play. Indianapolis returns home next weekend to take on Quincy at Key Stadium.

NOTES
Sidelined with an injury for much of last weekend, sophomore running back Tuwan Payton rushed for a team-high 62 yards on 18 carries ... Barthel completed 75% of his passes (27-for-36) with the two touchdowns. He also rushed for 17 yards including a critical 13-yard pick-up on 3rd & 10 to extend a touchdown drive ... Senior denfensive lineman O'rion Elder had a sack in his first action since returning from injury.