CHICAGO – The No. 13 ranked Saint Xavier University football team (4-3, 2-0 MSFA Midwest) lost a non-conference contest to NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State University (Mich.) on a rainy and windy Saturday afternoon at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. The weather factored into the matchup as the Cardinals ran the ball 48 times, while the Cougars had 34 rushing attempts. Senior wide receiver Kyle Quinn (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) led the SXU offense with four receptions for 68 yards and he scored a touchdown. Quinn also had two carries for 11 yards and a kick return for 11 yards.

• Senior quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) was 10-for-15 for 107 yards and a touchdown.
• Junior running back Jessi Plunkett (Evergreen Park, Ill./College of DuPage/Brother Rice) rushed a team-high 11 times for 27 yards. He added a reception for five yards.
• Graduate student wide receiver Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) caught two passes for 20 yards, had a kick return for 15 yards, had three carries for eight yards and returned two punts for six yards on the afternoon.
• Sophomore linebacker Terry Elias Jr. (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) led the Cougars with a game-high 14 tackles (10 solos) and had a tackle for loss for two yards. It was the fifth time in seven games that he has had 10 or more tackles this season.
• Senior linebacker Ryan Fitzgerald (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) came away with a career-high 12 tackles (five solos) and he had a quarterback hurry.
• Senior defensive back Tyler Barnette (Richton Park, Ill./Joliet West) registered nine stops (four solos), tackle for loss for two yards and a pass breakup.
• Senior defensive lineman Juabarey Anderson (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest) collected five tackles (one solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
• Junior defensive lineman Marcus Griffin (Chicago, Ill./Grand Valley State/Nazareth Academy) tallied three sacks (one solo) for nine yards.
• SVSU blocked a punt on SXU's opening drive that resulted in a safety after the Cougars recovered the blocked kick in the end zone at the 12:33 mark on the opening quarter.
• Senior kicker Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) capped a 13-play, 52-yard drive that took nine minutes off the game clock with a 35-yard field goal with 14:03 left in the second quarter to give Saint Xavier a 3-2 lead.
• The Cardinals responded with a 16-play, 76-yard drive that was extended after SXU had forced a punt attempt on fourth down, but the Cougars were offside on the play. Saginaw Valley State ended the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to go up 9-3 with 7:47 remaining in the half.
• SVSU scored on a three-yard quarterback option run with :50 left before the half. A penalty on the point after attempt moved the ball half the distance to the goal, however Saint Xavier stopped the two-point conversion attempt.
• Another blocked punt put the Cardinals at the SXU 18-yard line with :40 on the clock and they would kick a 35-yard field goal to carry an 18-3 lead into the halftime break.
• Midway through the fourth period, Saginaw Valley State extended its lead to 25-3 on a 16-yard touchdown pass at the 8:35 mark.
• SVSU pushed its advantage to 32-3 on a 17-yard quarterback draw for a score with 3:17 left in regulation.
• Ross connected with Quinn late in the fourth quarter for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:42 to go.

No. 13 Saint Xavier (4-3/2-0 MSFA Midwest) has a bye-week before returning to Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League competition when they travel to Davenport, Iowa to face St. Ambrose University (Iowa) on Saturday, October 28. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 pm start.