INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 25 UIndy football team (2-1, 1-0 GLVC) officially began its Great Lakes Valley Conference title defense with a decisive 41-14 win against visiting William Jewell (0-3, 0-1) Saturday afternoon at Key Stadium. The Greyhound defense sacked the Cardinal quarterback 12 times while Al McKeller and Malik Higgins combined for five touchdowns offensively.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UIndy's relentless pass rush produced the second-highest single-game sack total by a GLVC team since the league began sponsoring football in 2012. Seven Hounds were credited with at least a half sack, including Indy native Alec Patch, who finished the day with a career-high four QB sacks on his own.
 
After senior kicker Jacob LaFree connected for his first career field goal – a 35-yarder midway through the first quarter, the Greyhounds scored touchdowns on their next four possessions to take a commanding 31-0 lead late in the half.
 
The Cardinals managed a touchdown drive in the final seconds of the first half and would score only once more in the lopsided final.
 
Individually, senior receiver Malik Higgins finished with seven catches for 119 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns, while sophomore running back Al McKeller added 108 rushing yards and a pair of scores. Senior QB Jake Purichia completed 12 of 23 passing attempts for 202 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Patch's sack total matched the four that teammate Jacob Schmatz amassed versus Missouri S&T last season. Both sit atop the UIndy list for most sacks in a game since 2002 – first season that single-game sack info is available.
- Other Greyhounds that got in on the pass-rushing fun were Jacob Schmatz (2 sacks), Lucas Rice (1.5), Rondall Weathers (1.5), Erik Hart (1.5), Cole Sigmund (1.0) and Bryce Edwards (0.5).
- Senior safety Blake Luker had a pick-six called back for the second straight game. He stepped in front of Jewell pass at midfield and took it all the way to the house, but an illegal block wiped out the TD.
- Higgins notched his 10th career game with at least 100 yards receiving, while McKeller recorded his seventh career 100-yard rushing output.
 
MORE NOTES
The Greyhounds are 6-1 all-time versus William Jewell. They now average 44.0 points per game against the Cardinals, most versus any GLVC opponent with a minimum of three meetings … Higgins is now fourth in the UIndy annals with 24 career receiving TDs. He needs three more to move into sole possession of third place.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy wraps up its home stand next weekend when it hosts Lincoln University for the annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. ET. After Homecoming, the Hounds will hit the road for four of their next five contests.