WHEELING, W.Va. (Oct. 12) – The Cardinals generated 14 points off of turnovers, but were dealt a 28-14 loss by McKendree (Ill.) in a non-conference contest at the first-ever homecoming football game in school-history Saturday afternoon.
 
Wheeling University drops to 0-5 this season, while the Bearcats, members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), improve to 2-4 overall.
 
Sophomore quarterback Tucker Strachan (Kensington, Md./Bullis) finished 21-of-38 for 180 yards in the loss. He also added one catch for 11 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Ryan LaFollette (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central) was the top target with 12 receptions for 70 yards.
 
Wheeling went three-and-out on the first possession of the game. McKendree only needed six plays to go 78 yards for the opening score of the contest to take a 7-0 lead with 10:50 left in the first quarter.
 
The Bearcats forced another three and out and converted on a five-play, 46-yard drive that was capped off with a 27-yard touchdown run that made the score 14-0 at the 7:30-mark of the opening quarter.
 
After both teams traded punts, McKendree put the ball on the turf around midfield to setup Wheeling with possession on its own 47-yard line nearing the end of the first quarter. 
 
Strachan and the Cardinals converted a trio of third downs to help push the ball into the red zone, before a trick play got the team on the board. Strachan threw a lateral to redshirt-junior Jaquaun Davidson (Duquesne, Pa./Elizabeth Forward), who ran back towards the middle of the field and lofted a pass back to Strachan for an 11-yard touchdown. With the extra point, the Cardinals sliced the lead in half at 14-7 with 12:58 to play in the second quarter.
 
Wheeling's defense stepped up on the next drive. McKendree quarterback Turner Pullen had a pass deflected by freshman Josiah Wright (Loganville, Ga./Loganville) and into the hands of sophomore Aaron Finch (Atlanta, Ga./Langston Hughes). Finch took the ball all the way back for a touchdown to help the Cardinals draw even at 14-14 with just over nine minutes until halftime.
 
McKendree reclaimed the lead with field goals from 43 and 46 yards to take a 20-14 lead into halftime.
 
The Cardinals forced a punt on the opening drive of the second half and took over deep in their own territory. Wheeling drove to the McKendree four-yard line with the help of a 34-yard completion to Davidson, but were forced to attempt a field goal, which was blocked to end the Cardinal scoring threat.
 
After the defense forced another punt, Wheeling took over near midfield and was setup with first and goal from the five-yard line after a pair of receptions by LaFollette. The Cardinals got near the goal line, but a penalty and a loss of a yard pushed them back to the seven. On fourth and goal, Strachan was unable to connect with Davidson, keeping the score at 20-14 with 12:44 left in the game.
 
Each team traded a punt, before the Bearcats put the game away with a nine-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a touchdown to increase their lead to 28-14 (two-point try good) with less than five minutes to play in the contest.
 
Wheeling's defense was led by sophomore corner back Rich White III (Cleveland, Ohio/Lakewood St. Edwards). White posted a game-high 14 tackles (eight solo) with a half tackle for loss and five pass break ups. Sophomore defensive end Brandon Munoz (Halethorpe, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) established a season-high with 10 tackles (three solo).
 
The Cardinal defense held Bearcat quarterback Turner Pullen to 87 yards on 9-of-22 passing. McKendree's rushing attack was not held in check, as they ran for 305 yards, including 185 by Jace Franklin.
 
Wheeling will travel into Ohio for the first time this season when it heads to South Euclid on Saturday, October 19 to take on No. 5 Notre Dame in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) game. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.
 
 
GAME NOTES: The Cardinal defense held an opponent to under 30 points for the first time this season … Wheeling was limited to 45 yards rushing … Strachan was sacked four times for a loss of 30 yards, which contributed to the team's rushing total … Sophomore Sy Alli IV (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) led the team with 46 yards on 12 carries … Wheeling held McKendree to 3-of-11 on third downs … Wheeling was 7-of-20 on third down … the two teams combined for 18 penalties, including 10 on McKendree for 82 yards … Finch's interception return for a touchdown was the first-ever in program history.