LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell football team got off to a fast start on Saturday, jumping out to a 17-3 lead but were unable to sustain the advantage, falling 45-34 to McKendree University. The Cardinals drop to 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jewell opened the game with a four-and-out on defense before pushing down field 57 yards on 10 plays ending in a two yard run by Taylor Eggers to take an early lead. 
• The Cardinals made it a 14-0 advantage on the next drive as CJ Ward connected with Jesse Thomas for a 57 yard touchdown. 
• After McKendree got on the board with a field goal, Paul Geelen matched it with a 26-yarder to make it 17-3. 
• The Bearcats scored 21 points before Jewell stopped the run with a 21-yard field goal by Geelen to make it 24-20 in favor of McKendree at the end of the third quarter. 
• There were 35 combined points in the fourth period as the Bearcats scored three times to open the frame. Ward connected with Deldrionn Amos for a 68 yard touchdown reception and again for 14 yards to make it an 11-point game but the rally came up short. 

KEY STATS

• Jewell had season highs of 513 yards of total offense and 225 on the ground. 
• Jordan Clay put up 100 yards rushing, joined by Tabren Yates with 89, including a 51-yard run which is tied for the ninth longest in the NCAA era and longest since 2018. 
• Ward put up  280 yards through the air with three touchdowns and a career high and ninth best in NCAA era, 68-yard completion. 
• Deldrionn Amos was the primary target with 145 yards receiving, eighth most in a game in the NCAA era. 
• Jesse Thomas added 89 yards and a score while Grant Latina put up 76 yards on kick off returns. 
• Defensively, Adam Callahan put up 15 tackles, tied for fourth in the NCAA era, with 1.5 tackles for loss. 
• The Cardinals had two sacks by Kian Betancourt, Edd Becton and Austin Gard. 

UP NEXT
Jewell hits the road next week to Southwest Baptist. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. in Bolivar.