UIndy Athletics

LEBANON, Ill. – The UIndy football team dropped a 35-31 decision at McKendree Saturday night. The Greyhounds erased an early double-digit deficit and held a lead in the fourth quarter, but the host Bearcats authored the go-ahead touchdown drive with under eight minutes left and hung on for the win.
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds return to Key Stadium next week to host Truman State in rematch of last year's first-round playoff game. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET.

INS & OUTS
After spotting the Bearcats 14 points, a 45-yard keeper by QB Nick Patterson late in the first quarter jump-started the Hounds' first scoring drive of the night. UIndy got to the doorstep but ultimately settled for a field goal, as freshman kicker Zach Hermanson connected on a 19-yard chip shot for his first points as a collegian.
 
After another field goal from Hermanson further trimmed the lead, the Greyhounds ended the half with a flurry. A safety, a missed field goal, a sack, an interception, the longest touchdown of the year, and a missed extra-point all came in the final three minutes.
 
The highlight came when Patterson launched a deep ball to a wide-open Cayden Olinger, who went 58 yards to the house for the Hounds' first TD, tying the game.
 
All-GLVC running back Garrett Sherrell got in the scoring column in the third quarter, as his 25-yard touchdown scamper tied the game once again, 21-21.
 
UIndy took its first lead late in the third on a 40-yard field goal from Andrew Herron—the longest of his career—to make it 24-21 Greyhounds.
 
The back-and-forth continued, with the teams exchanging touchdown drives down the stretch. McKendree answered with quick TD to briefly regain the lead, 28-24, but the Greyhounds snatched it right back with TD on the very next possession. UIndy came up with a fantastic play call on 3rd & 1, allowing Patterson to find Callen Okerson down the seem for a 48-yard TD.
 
McKendree had one last push remaining, however, as its nine-play 75-yard drive flipped the score one final time. The Hounds were forced to punt on their ensuing drive, and the Bearcats managed to salt away the final 6:41 of game time to seal the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- UIndy finished with over 200 more rushing yards than McKendree and nearly 100 more total yards.
- Juseters Fataki led the rushing attack with 83 yards on 15 carries. Sherrell added 68 yards on the ground and 44 yards receiving.
- Linebackers Alvin Contreras and Jerrell Franklin Jr. both garnered an interception tonight; both their first of the season.
- Linebacker TJ Cothron amassed seven total tackles, a sack and a blocked field goal.
- The Greyhounds were flagged for 11 penalties for 131 yards, with the latter total the most for the Hounds since 2008.
 
MORE NOTES
The Greyhounds are now 13-2 all-time versus McKendree … the loss snaps a 17-game win streak in GLVC play … just the third-ever night game at Leemon Field, the game was pushed back six hours from its originally-scheduled 2 o'clock kick due to safety concerns regarding high temperatures.