CHICAGO – Junior defensive back Kevin Countryman (Morris, Ill./Providence Catholic) intercepted two passes, including a 69-yard touchdown return, made four tackles and came away with a sack in a 24-21 victory for the Saint Xavier University football team (1-2, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) over Siena Heights University (Mich.) Saturday afternoon at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. in a Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) crossover contest. Countryman is the first Cougar to have two interceptions in a game since current coach Steven Meyer (2018-21) had two picks against Lawrence Tech University (Mich.) on March 6, 2021. Countryman also set the single-game SXU record for interception return yards with 87. The win moves head coach Mike Feminis up 198 career victories, 12th all-time for NAIA football head coaches.

• Junior quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) finished the game 22-for-35 with 191 passing yards. He threw for one touchdown and recorded his first rushing touchdown of the season and the eighth in his career.
• Senior wide receiver/punter Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) caught nine passes for 61 yards and amassed 101 all-purpose yards. He also had four punts that averaged 38.8 yards per kick, with a long of 47 yards
• Junior wide receiver/punter Joe Polselli (Evergreen Park, Ill./St. Rita) made four receptions for 30 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown catch. He also had two punts for an average of 39.5 yards with a long of 42.
• Freshman running back Mario Price (Chicago Heights, Ill./Calumet New Tech) had three catches for 36 yards and rushed 14 times for nine yards.
• Junior wide receiver Kyle Quinn (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) hauled in four passes for 45 yards and rushed twice for seven yards.
• Senior linebacker Peyton Nigro (Mokena, Ill./Concordia-St. Paul/Lincoln-Way Central) posted a team-high nine tackles (three solos) and had 0.5 tackles for loss.
• Senior defensive back Jacob Denney (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) recorded seven tackles (six solos) and had a tackle for loss for one yard, while junior defensive back Ron Carroll (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) also made seven stops (four solos).
• Freshman linebacker Terry Elias (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) racked up five tackles (three solos), 2.0 sacks for seven yards, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.
• The Saint scored on their first offensive possession, a 30-yard touchdown pass, to take a 7-0 lead at the 12:40 mark of the opening frame.
• Saint Xavier responded with a 12-play; 90-yard drive capped off by an eight-yard rushing touchdown by Ross to tie the game with 8:16 left in the first quarter.
• The Cougars took advantage of a bad snap on fourth down early in the second period and junior kicker Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) kicked a 29-yard field goal to put SXU ahead, 10-7, with 12:31 in the first half.
• Both defenses held firm over the next 11 minutes. A punt by Pringle drifted out-of-bounds at the SXU 33, setting SHU up with good field position with 1:29 left before halftime. On the next play, Countryman intercepted a pass and raced 69 yards to the endzone to give Saint Xavier a 17-7 lead at intermission.
• Midway through the third quarter, both teams recovered fumbles on back-to-back drives. Junior defensive lineman Van Williams Jr. (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence) pounced on a loss ball to set the Cougars up at the Siena Heights 32-yard line.
• On fourth and one, Ross connected with a wide open Polselli on a 23-yard touchdown with 4:17 left in the quarter to give SXU a 24-7 advantage.
• The Saints scored on a four-yard quarterback keeper early in the fourth quarter and pulled within three points on a 19-yard touchdown pass with just 27 seconds left in regulation.
• Quinn recovered the on-side kick attempt and the Cougars kneeled down to secure the win.

Saint Xavier (1-2/0-0 MSFA) travels to Fort Wayne, Ind. to play No. 20 University of Saint Francis in a Mid-States Football Association crossover game on Saturday, September 24. The game is scheduled for a 5:00 pm central kickoff.