LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell football team heads north this weekend, making the trek to Upper Iowa for a Saturday showdown with the Peacocks. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and can be seen live on the GLVC Sports Network. Upper Iowa accepts cash only with tickets available at the gate. 

CARDINAL NOTES

• Jewell enters the week looking to rebound after back-to-back losses against two top opponents. The Cardinals will be searching for win No. 4 for the first time since 2015 and their first two-win conference season since 2017.  
• The Cardinals are coming off an overtime 23-20 loss to No. 22 UIndy last weekend, the first overtime game of the NCAA era. The three point spread marks the closest Jewell has gotten to the always-strong Greyhounds since their 2015 upset. Despite two losses, the Cards put up back-to-back-strong performances against two tough teams. 
• Jewell enters the week leading the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 3rd down conversion defense and 13th nationally. The Cardinals are allowing third down conversions just 26% of the time including giving up just 2-of-12 last weekend to UIndy, their lowest conversion rate of the season. 
• The Cardinals continue to remain disciplined, currently ranked fourth in Division II in fewest penalties per game and fourth in fewest penalty yards per game with just 39.20. Two of the top five teams in NCAA-II in fewest penalties are in the GLVC as Truman State is third in the nation with 3.80 per contest.
• The defense was tested over the last two weeks but has continued to shine. The Cardinals are 14th in Division II with 8.8 team tackles for loss. Five different players rank among the top-10 in the GLVC in TFLs, led by Javion Macias (3rd), Justin Endicott (5th), Adam Callahan (8th), Keagan Hart (T10th), Derrick Von Hubbard (T10th).  
• Since taking over the offense in week three, Tucker Griffin has proven he is up for the task. The redshirt freshman enters the week third in the GLVC in passing efficiency at 134.3 and is 7th in the league in total offense per game at 179.5 per game.   
• Javion Macias and Justin Endicott have formed a potent 1-2 punch up front on the defensive side of the ball. The duo are currently ranked 1st and 2nd in the GLVC in sacks per game at 1.3 and 0.80 which are 6th and 25th nationally.
• Adam Callahan put up double digit tackles last week for the second time in as many games. The senior is leading Division II with 7.6 solo tackles per game and is ninth with 9.8 total tackles per outing after putting up 29 over the last two contests. Keagan Hart is also 34th nationally with 5.0 tackles per game and posted a career high 13 last weekend.
• Keaundre McCullough missed last week due to injury but is expected to be back in uniform this Saturday. In his absence the Cardinals showed their depth in the run game as three others, Livingston Benoit II, MichaJo Barnett, and Cameron Emmons stepped up to combine for 124 yards on 29 carries with the rookies, Barnett and Emmons totaling 101 of those yards.  
• Josh Click hit a 47-yard field goal last weekend to put the Cardinals in front in the fourth quarter. The mark is the third longest in the GLVC this season and the sixth 40-plus connection of Click's career. 
• Saturday will mark Jewell's first-ever trip to Fayette, Iowa. The Peacocks joined the GLVC last season with the Cardinals taking the first meeting 30-6. This week's match up will be a battle of two of the most improved teams in the conference as the Peacocks and Cardinals currently sit third and fourth in the standings after being picked seventh and eighth, respectively in the preseason poll.