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Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

Football
16
Winner Indiana Wesleyan IWU 3-0
15
Saint Xavier SXU 1-2
Winner
Indiana Wesleyan IWU
3-0
16
Final
15
Saint Xavier SXU
1-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
IWU Indiana Wesleyan 7 7 2 0 16
SXU Saint Xavier 7 0 0 8 15

Game Recap: Football |

No. 15 Saint Xavier Clipped by No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan, 16-15

CHICAGO – A 16-yard touchdown catch and run by junior running back Matthew Chavers III (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) pulled No. 15 ranked Saint Xavier University football (1-2, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) within one point, 16-15, with 2:55 left in the fourth quarter, however the two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan University. The SXU defense stood tall on the ensuing possession forcing a three-and-out and took over after a punt at their own 38-yard line with 2:35 left in regulation. The Cougars got past midfield before a pass on third down by senior quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) was intercepted at the IWU 26 to end the contest. The Mid-States Football Association crossover turned into an 'old-fashioned' MSFA defensive battle as each offense was held under 300 yards of total offense (Indiana Wesleyan – 288, Saint Xavier – 159). Senior defensive back Ron Carroll (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) led the SXU defense with 11 tackles, a tackle for loss for nine yards and an interception.
 
  • Ross finished 15-for-32 for 101 yards and a touchdown.
  • Graduate student wide receiver Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) caught a team-best six passes for 57 yards. He also had three carries for eight yards and a touchdown. Pringle added three kick returns for 87 yards and a punt return for 12 yards.
  • Senior running back Amari Venerable (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) had six rushing attempts for 23 yards.
  • Chavers III had five carries for 18 yards and one catch for a 16-yard touchdown.
  • Senior wide receiver Mike Gundersdorf (Mesa, Ariz./Dobson) hauled in three receptions for 30 yards and had a rushing attempt for two yards.
  • Senior wide receiver/punter Joe Polselli (Evergreen Park, Ill./St. Rita) helped to flip the field with nine punts for 358 yards for an average of 39.8 yards per punt, had a long of 51 yards and landed five punts inside the 20-yard line.
  • Sophomore linebacker Terry Elias (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) had another solid defensive effort, recoding 10 tackles, a tackle for loss for four yards, a sack for two yards, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
  • Senior linebacker Finn Brandon (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) posted 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss for a yard and a pass breakup
  • Senior linebacker Ryan Fitzgerald (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) registered a career-high 10 stops and had a tackle for loss for two yards.
  • Senior defensive lineman Ayobami Arokoyo (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) tallied nine tackles, three tackles for loss for 14 yards and 1.5 sacks for eight yards.
  • The Wildcats used a 16-play, 78-yard drive that used up 6:22 to strike first on a one-yard touchdown run to go ahead 7-0 with 5:17 to play in the opening frame.
  • Pringle capped an eight play, 58-yard drive on the next possession to tie the game at 7-7 on a one-yard rushing touchdown with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter.
  • Indiana Wesleyan went ahead 14-7 at the 11:21 mark of the second period on a five-yard touchdown pass and would hold the lead by that score heading into the locker room at halftime.
  • IWU recorded a safety after an intentional grounding call in the end zone midway through the third quarter at the 7:14 mark.
  • The Cougars registered a safety early in the final period at 14:50 on the same intentional grounding call in the end zone.
  • Chavers III rumbled in from 16 yards out on fourth and six to set up the final dramatics in the closing moments of the fourth quarter at 2:55. 
No. 15 Saint Xavier (1-2, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) hosts Madonna University (Mich.) in a MSFA crossover on Saturday, September 23 at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field. The game is scheduled for a 12:00 pm start.
 
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