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Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

Amari Venerable, Football
45
Winner Saint Xavier (Ill.) SXU 1-0
28
Saint Francis (Ind.) USF 0-1
Winner
Saint Xavier (Ill.) SXU
1-0
45
Final
28
Saint Francis (Ind.) USF
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SXU Saint Xavier (Ill.) 14 14 7 10 45
USF Saint Francis (Ind.) 14 14 0 0 28

Game Recap: Football |

No. 13 SXU Runs Past Saint Francis in 45-28 Season Opening Victory

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Behind a rushing attack that gained 291 yards on 43 attempts and a total offensive output of 527 yards on 72 plays, the No. 13 ranked Saint Xavier University football team (1-0, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) took down rival University of Saint Francis (Ind.) in their 2023 season opener Saturday evening at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium in Fort Wayne, Ind. Senior running back Amari Venerable (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) ran for 136 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns and a long of 63 yards. It was the highest total offensive game for the Cougars since November 9, 2019 when they racked up 588 yards in 55-42 triumph over Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.).
 
  • Redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Voss (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) made his SXU debut and was 14-for-29 for 236 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 15 carries for 63 yards as well.
  • Graduate student wide receiver Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) hauled in four receptions for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also led Saint Xavier in all-purpose yards with 157.
  • Junior running back Matthew Chavers III (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) finished with 10 carries for 78 yards and a score, including a 62-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
  • Senior wide receiver Kyle Quinn (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) caught two passes for 57 yards and scored a touchdown.
  • Senior kicker Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill/Andrew) was 6-for-6 on PAT's and nailed a 40-yard field goal. He also averaged 55.3 yards per kickoff with a pair of touchbacks.
  • Senior defensive back Ron Carroll (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) collected a team-leading nine tackles (five solos) to help lead an SXU defense that allowed just 76 yards rushing.
  • Senior linebacker Finn Brandon (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) made eight tackles (three solos) with an interception brought back for 26 yards, a pass breakup and a tackle for loss (TFL) for one yard.
  • Junior defensive lineman Marcus Griffin (Chicago, Ill./Grand Valley State/Nazareth Academy) had a solid debut for the Cougars, totaling seven tackles (four solos), a sack for seven yards and a quarterback hurry.
  • Saint Xavier fumbled the ball on its first two possessions and both turnovers led to scores for the host Cougars. USF struck first on a 16-yard touchdown pass and followed that with a two-play drive the resulted in a 28-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-0 lead just 11:30 into the first quarter.
  • SXU responded on its next drive when Venerable capped a five-play, 65-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone.
  • The visiting Cougars evened the score at the 4:21 mark of the opening frame on Venerable's second rushing touchdown, this one from 11 yards out.
  • Saint Francis regained the lead midway through the second period on an 11-yard touchdown pass after an eight-play, 52-yard drive.
  • USF intercepted an SXU pass near midfield and returned the ball 33 yards to the Saint Xavier 15-yard line. A one-yard rushing touchdown three plays later put the home Cougars up 28-14 with 5:58 left in the half.
  • On the ensuing possession, Voss found Pringle for an acrobatic touchdown catch along the sidelines on fourth and nine from 33 yards out to cut the deficit.
  • The SXU defense forced a three-and-out, setting up an eight-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard pass from Voss to Pringle with one second left to re-tie the game 28-28 heading into halftime.
  • With 2:16 left in the third quarter, Voss found Quinn for a 35-yard strike to give Saint Xavier its first lead of the game.
  • USF came away with an interception early in the fourth quarter and marched down to the Cougar seven-yard line before sophomore defensive back Jayden Phillips (Country Club Hills, Ill./Bremen) intercepted a tipped pass in the end zone with 10:56 left in regulation.
  • SXU would than go 11 plays on 62 yards to set up a 40-yard field goal by Benes with 4:55 remaining in the period.
  • Chavers III capped the scoring with a two-yard rushing touchdown, set up by his 62-yard rush just three plays before.
No. 13 Saint Xavier (1-0, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) travels to Indianapolis, Ind. to square off with No. 6 Marian University (Ind.) on Saturday, September 9. The game is slated for a 5:00 pm central start.

 
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