CHICAGO – Despite a pair of 100-yard receiving performances by senior wide receiver Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) and junior wide receiver/punter Joe Polselli (Evergreen Park, Ill./St. Rita), No. 11 ranked Saint Xavier University football (0-2, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) lost its home opener to St. Thomas University (Fla.) Saturday afternoon at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. in non-conference action. Pringle made eight receptions for 138 yards and scored a touchdown on an 81-yard catch and run. Polselli had career-high nine receptions and a career-best 106 receiving yards, including a 41-yard grab. It was the first time since November 9, 2019, that SXU had a pair of 100-yard receivers. Michael Markasovic (2016-19) had 152 receiving yards and Harold Davis (2016-19) had 126 receiving yards vs. Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.).

• Junior quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) eclipsed 300 yards passing for the third time in his career and just missed his career-high by two yards. He went 31-for-47 for 313 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
• Freshman running back Mario Price (Chicago Heights, Ill./Calumet New Tech), rushed for 27 yards on 11 carries. He also had two catches for 11 yards.
• Pringle had a career-high 22 rushing yards on three attempts, returned three kickoffs for 63 yards and totaled 223 all-purpose yards. He also had four punts for 101 yards.
• Senior linebacker Joey Markasovic (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic) led the defense with 12 tackles (seven solos), along with 1.5 tackles for loss for three yards, a quarterback hurry and had an interception returned for 20 yards.
• Junior defensive back Tyler Barnette (Richton Park, Ill./Joliet West) tallied nine tackles (four solos), while junior defensive back Ron Carroll (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) also made nine stops (three solos).
• Senior defensive lineman Payton Campbell (Round Lake Beach, Ill./Grayslake North) collected seven tackles (five solos), 2.0 tackles for loss for 16 yards, a sack for seven yards, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.
• Senior linebacker Peyton Nigro (Mokena, Ill./Concordia-St. Paul/Lincoln-Way Central) recorded seven tackles (two solos).
• Junior kicker Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) gave Saint Xavier a 3-0 lead on a 22-yard field goal on their opening drive that lasted 13 plays, 76 yards and 6:39 after Pringle converted a fake punt on a 31-yard carry.
• The Bobcats took the lead, 7-3, on an 11-yard rushing touchdown to start the second quarter at 14:54.
• St. Thomas extended its lead with a 23-yard field goal with 4:53 left in the opening half and went into halftime with a 17-3 lead after scoring a four-yard rushing touchdown at the 1:04 mark.
• Ross found Pringle on third and long and Pringle rumbled 81 yards for the touchdown early in the third period at 10:40 to pull within 17-10.
• STU scored twice in just over a minute in the fourth quarter. A 33-yard reverse resulted in a touchdown at 11:22 and a blocked punt returned 22 yards capped the scoring at the 10:15 mark.

No. 11 Saint Xavier (0-2/0-0 MSFA) continues its homestand with a Mid-States Football Association crossover matchup vs. Siena Heights University on Saturday, September 17. The game is scheduled for a 12:00 pm kickoff.