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Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

Brandt Hixson, Football
28
Winner Saint Xavier SXU 3-2 , 1
21
St. Francis (Ill.) USF 4-1 , 0
Winner
Saint Xavier SXU
3-2 , 1
28
Final
21
St. Francis (Ill.) USF
4-1 , 0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
SXU Saint Xavier 0 14 0 7 7 28
USF St. Francis (Ill.) 7 7 7 0 0 21

Game Recap: Football |

No. 16 SXU Football Upsets No. 13 St. Francis in OT, 28-21

Joliet, Ill. – On the first play of overtime, senior quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast) connected with senior wide receiver Brandt Hixson (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) for a 25-yard touchdown pass to put No. 16 ranked Saint Xavier University football (3-2, 1-0 MSFA Midwest) ahead 28-21, in the untimed extra period over No. 13 University of St. Francis (Ill.). The Fighting Saints had a chance to respond and on their first play, junior defensive back Antonio Orozco (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) drifted back and came away with his first collegiate interception in the end zone to secure the road victory for the Cougars to start Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League play Saturday afternoon at Joliet Memorial Field in Joliet, Ill. It's the second time in their last three meetings that these two squads were tied after the fourth quarter, as SXU won 26-20 on a 25-yard touchdown run by than sophomore running back Amari Venerable (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) on November 13, 2021 in Joliet. The last six matchups, all Saint Xavier wins, have been decided by seven points or fewer.
  • Both teams had near identical stats as USF had a slight edge in total yards with 326 to SXU's 324. The Cougars had more rushing yards (167-153), while the Fighting Saints had mor first downs (20-19).
  • Ross threw for 157 yards on 15-for-24 passing with three touchdowns and was sacked three times.
  • Venerable ran for 82 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown. He also made three receptions for 20 yards.
  • Senior wide receiver Kyle Quinn (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) caught four passes for 78 yards and a score. He added two carries for 18 yards.
  • Graduate student wide receiver Justin Pringle (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) snared five passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed four times for 22 yards.
  • Hixson's lone grab came in overtime for the winning score.
  • Sophomore linebacker Terry Elias Jr. (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) collected a team-leading 10 tackles, his fourth straight game with 10 or more stops, 2.0 tackles for loss (TFL) for six yards and a sack for five yards.
  • Senior defensive back Ron Carroll (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) racked up eight stops with a 1.0 TFL for three yards and a pass breakup.
  • Senior defensive back Tyler Barnette (Richton Park, Ill./Joliet West) made seven tackles along with 1.0 TFL for two yards and forced a fumble.
  • Junior defensive back Bruce Pendleton III (Chicago, Ill./McKendree/Plainfield Central) had five tackles, 0.5 TFL for two yards and a fumble recovery.
  • Saint Francis took the lead at the 6:01 mark of the first quarter, going on a 11-play, 78-yard drive that used 5:40 of game clock that resulted in a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Sam Tumilty.
  • Saint Xavier tied the game, 7-7, early in the second period when Ross hit Quinn on a 27-yard touchdown pass that ended a seven play, 62-yard drive.
  • USF looked to be heading into halftime with a 14-7 advantage after Tumilty ran in his second touchdown of the game from two yards out with 1:43 left in the first half.
  • The Cougars responded on the next possession, marching 76 yards on 10 plays, culminating in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Ross to Pringle with :10 to go before halftime.
  • The score remained knotted at 14-14 until Tumilty threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to his brother Joey, to put the Fighting Saints back on top, 21-14, with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter.
  • SXU scored on its next drive, going 58 yards on 14 plays and using 6:13 of game time, resulting in a one-yard score by Venerable with 11:20 left in the fourth period.
  • Saint Francis had a chance to win in regulation, starting a drive from their own 26-yard line with 3:42 to play. They made it to the Saint Xavier 32-yard line but had their fourth and three pass attempt fall incomplete with :27 on the clock. The Cougars took over at their own 32, however Ross was sacked, and the clock expired, setting up the overtime dramatics.
No. 16 Saint Xavier (3-2, 2-0 MSFA Midwest) returns to Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field to celebrate Homecoming on Saturday, October 7. They will host Judson University (Ill.) in MSFA Midwest League competition, and the game will start with a 12:00 pm kickoff.
 
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