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West Liberty Comes Up Short in 2OT Thriller

Football | 9/10/2016 6:40:00 PM

Box Score LEBANON, Ill. – A fumbled snap on a two-point conversion try in the second overtime period left West Liberty one point short here Saturday afternoon as host McKendree escaped with a 16-15 victory in a non-conference nail-biter at windswept Leemon Field.
The Bearcats (2-0) had taken a 16-9 lead on a 15-yard TD pass from QB Elcee Burke to WR Sean Dowling to start the second overtime period but the Hilltoppers (0-2) were able to strike back.
Facing a 4th-and-7 from the 22, senior QB Dakota Conwell stood tall in the pocket and fired a strike over the middle to senior WR Anton McCallum, who was dragged to the turf at the 1. The 21-yard gain was the longest pass completion of the day for either team.
Conwell dove into the end zone from a yard out on the next snap and head coach Roger Waialae opted to go for the win rather than risk a kick in the windy conditions. Unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, there was a problem with the exchange and McKendree's Tobias Cook recovered the fumble to end the game.
It was the 15th win in the last 17 games for the Bearcats, who were among teams receiving votes in this week's NCAA Division II coaches' poll.
The hard-luck Hilltoppers (0-2) dominated play for most of the day but turnovers and special teams woes once again proved problematic for WLU. 
Despite racking up 349 yards of total offense and 21 first downs to just 256 yards of total offense and 15 stick movers for the hosts, the Black and Gold missed a short field goal attempt and had a potential game-winning PAT blocked. The visitors also lost two fumbles and threw a pair of interceptions while McKendree didn't commit a turnover.
West Liberty marched inside the Bearcat 6 on the Hilltoppers' opening possession but a 24-yard field goal try twisted wide right. The Black and Gold penetrated the McKendree end of the field on three more first-half possessions but came away empty-handed each time thanks to a fumble, an interception and a failed fourth-down conversion.
The WLU defense stuffed the Bearcats for most of the first half. After managing just one first down and 10 total yards in the first quarter, the hosts mounted their only sustained drive of the half. A penalty gave McKendree 1st-and-goal at the 2 but they couldn't punch it in. A bad snap foiled a 24-yard field goal try and the half ended in a scoreless tie.
 The Bearcats finally broke the scoring ice in the third quarter when All-America PK Steven O'Block curled a 36-yard field goal through the posts. O'Block also had his struggles on the day, misfiring on a 27-yard field goal try later in the quarter and pushing a 37-yard attempt wide right early in the fourth quarter.
With the wind at his back, O'Block converted a 42-yard field goal for a 6-0 McKendree lead at 9:17 of the fourth quarter and that seemed to provide a spark for the WLU offense.
Conwell keyed a 75-yard, 7-play scoring drive with a clutch 32-yard scamper on 3rd-and-1 from the 50. McKendree was expecting another Conwell run but he slipped a handoff to TB Braxton Gamble who cut back up the middle for a game-tying 18-yard touchdown with 6:17remaining. The PAT was blocked, however, keeping the score at 6-6.
After forcing another three-and-out, West Liberty drove from its own 10 to the McKendree 33 in the waning seconds of regulation but lost the ball on downs and settled for overtime.
West Liberty couldn't pick up a first down in the first overtime but Christian Morris delivered a clutch 40-yard field goal for a 9-6 lead. The Hilltopper defense forced another three-and-out but O'Block sent the game into double-overtime with a 34-yard kick.
Conwell completed 21-of-39 passes for 152 yards while rushing 30 times for 95 more yards. McCallum had a career-high 9 catches for 87 yards. McKendree's Burke completed 14-of-29 passes for 129 yards while TB Shayeen Edwards had 32 carries for 98 yards. Linebackers Cliff Clark and Garrett Vulcano led the WLU defense with 15 and 14 tackles, respectively, both career-highs.
The Hilltoppers return home to host Fairmont State on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7:10 p.m. at West Family Stadium.

McKendree 16
West Liberty 9
West Liberty 0  0  0  6  3  6 – 15
McKendree 0  0  3  3  3  7 – 16
Third Quarter
McK: FG O'Block 36. 9:51
Fourth Quarter
McK: FG O'Block 42, 9:17
WLU: Gamble 18 run (kick blocked), 6:17
First Overtime
WLU: FG Morris 40
McK: FG O'Block 34
Second Overtime
McK: Dowling 15 pass from Burke (O'Block kick)
WLU: Conwell 1 run (run failed)
Game Statistics
RUSHING: West Liberty 54-197; Conwell 30-95; Gamble 11-55; Ortiz 6-21; Monteroso 1-16; Penick 2-8; Peterson 3-4; Mask 1-(-2). McKendree 55-127; Edwards 32-98; Burke 14-23; Merrill 4-17; Hammonds 2-7; Dowling 2-(-3); Team 1-(-15).
PASSING: West Liberty 21-39-152-0td-2x (all by Conwell). McKendree 14-29-129-1td-0x (all by Burke).
RECEIVING: West Liberty 21-152; McCallum 9-87; Monteroso 5-24; Kelly 2-17; Peterson 3-16; Ortiz 1-6; McLean 1-2. McKendree 14-129; Walls 6-51; Dowling 4-55; Balster 3-21; Brewer 1-2.
First downs: West Liberty 21, McKendree 15
Fumbles: West Liberty 3-2, McKendree 0-0
Penalties: West Liberty 4-22 McKendree 7-51
Time of Possession: West Liberty 33:04, McKendree 26:56
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Players Mentioned

Dakota Conwell

#11 Dakota Conwell

QB
6' 1"
Senior
Braxton Gamble

#29 Braxton Gamble

RB
5' 9"
Junior
Anton McCallum

#4 Anton McCallum

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Christian Morris

#14 Christian Morris

K/P
6' 1"
Sophomore
Garrett Vulcano

#44 Garrett Vulcano

LB
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Dakota Conwell

#11 Dakota Conwell

6' 1"
Senior
QB
Braxton Gamble

#29 Braxton Gamble

5' 9"
Junior
RB
Anton McCallum

#4 Anton McCallum

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Christian Morris

#14 Christian Morris

6' 1"
Sophomore
K/P
Garrett Vulcano

#44 Garrett Vulcano

6' 1"
Senior
LB