CHICAGO – The No. 16 Saint Xavier University football team (5-2, 3-0 MSFA Midwest) improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League play after a 31-13 victory over Missouri Baptist University Saturday afternoon at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. Junior defensive back Ron Carroll (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) posted a team-high 14 tackles (five solos), recorded his first career sacks (1.5 sacks for 11 yards), had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry to lead the Cougars defense. Senior linebacker Joey Markasovic (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic) returned an interception 50 yards for his first collegiate touchdown, along with four tackles (one solo) and a quarterback hurry in the win.

• Junior quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) threw for 135 yards on 17-for-29 passing and a touchdown. He also had eight carries for 19 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
• Freshman running back Mario Price (Chicago Heights, Ill./Calumet New Tech) ran for a team-best 59 yards on 16 carries. He also caught four passes for 25 yards, including a three-yard touchdown reception for his first collegiate touchdown.
• Senior wide receiver Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) had a team-high five receptions for 22 yards, along with a kick return for 19 yards, a punt return for 12 yards and a carry for three yards.
• Freshman linebacker Terry Elias (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) registered eight tackles (five solos), one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.
• Junior defensive lineman Ayobami Arokoyo (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) also made seven stops (four solos) for the Saint Xavier defense.
• Missouri Baptist scored on its opening drive, going 28 yards on seven plays, before kicking a 37-yard field goal at the 10:54 mark of the opening period.
• Midway through the first quarter, SXU took advantage of a bobbled punt return and sophomore defensive back Bruce Pendleton III (Chicago, Ill./McKendree/Plainfield Central) pounced on the fumble to set the Cougars up at the MBU 34-yard line. Junior kicker Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) finished the drive with a 33-yard field goal to tie the game, 3-3, with 3:52 left in the quarter.
• Ross connected with Price for his first collegiate score on a three-yard swing pass to give Saint Xavier its first lead of the game, 10-3, at the 9:37 mark of the second period.
• On the next Spartan possession, Markasovic intercepted his second pass of the season at midfield and rumbled down the far sideline and into the endzone to extend the lead to 17-3 with 8:26 left in the first half.
• Missouri Baptist responded with a five-play, 50-yard drive and cut the deficit to 17-10 after a one-handed grab on fourth and three on a 26-yard pass. The score would remain the same as the half ended with SXU holding a seven-point advantage.
• Junior wide receiver Kyle Quinn (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) found senior wide receiver Mason Gray (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tiffin/Bremen) for a 65-yard catch and run to put Saint Xavier ahead 24-10 with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter. It was the longest pass in Quinn's career and it's the second time that Quinn and Gray have connected for a touchdown after doing so last season at Siena Heights University (Mich.), a 38-yard strike, on September 18, 2021.
• MBU marched 67 yards on 11 plays and used 5:39 of game clock to kick a 23-yard field goal on their next drive to make it a two-score game, 24-13, with 3:48 left in the frame.
• Ross capped the scoring with a one-yard quarterback sneak on fourth and goal early in the fourth quarter to lock up the win.

No. 16 Saint Xavier (5-2/3-0 MSFA) takes a trip to Deerfield, Ill. to play Trinity International University (Ill.) on Saturday, October 22. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 pm kickoff.