Skip To Main Content

Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

2024_FB_Seniors
6
Judson (IL) JU 1-9 , 0
38
Winner Saint Xavier (IL) SXU 5-6 , 1
Judson (IL) JU
1-9 , 0
6
Final
38
Saint Xavier (IL) SXU
5-6 , 1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
JU Judson (IL) 0 0 0 6 6
SXU Saint Xavier (IL) 0 24 0 14 38

Game Recap: Football |

Seniors Shine as SXU Football Defeats Judson, 38-6 on ‘Senior Day’

CHICAGO – The Saint Xavier University football team (5-6, 1-4 MSFA Midwest) celebrated 'Senior Day' with five seniors scoring touchdowns as the Cougars bested Judson University (Ill.) 38-6 in a Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League contest Saturday afternoon at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. in their season finale. Graduate student wide receiver Julian Smith (Glenwood, Ill./Jackson State/Calumet New Tech) had the highlight of the day, returning a punt as the clock expired to end the first half 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Cougars up 24-0 heading into halftime. SXU accounted for 322 yards of total offense with 170 coming on the ground. The defense held JU to 200 yards of total offense and they intercepted three passes, their sixth consecutive game with an interception.

Before the game, Saint Xavier recognized 21 student-athletes, as well as two student-mangers: defensive lineman Ayobami Arokoyo (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg), kicker Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew), defensive lineman Dalen Brown (Richton Park, Ill./Indianapolis/Crete-Monee), wide receiver Xavier Bryant (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic), linebacker Vince Clinite (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin), defensive back Kevin Countryman (Morris, Ill./Providence Catholic), linebacker Clark Dilger (Frankfort, Ill./McKendree/Lincoln-Way East), Stephanie Duran, linebacker Ryan Fitzgerald (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew), Alexia Gonzalez, wide receiver Brandt Hixson (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem), wide receiver Benny Jass (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic), defensive back Josiah Johnson (Matteson, Ill./Rich South), wide receiver Javen Mays (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East), defensive back Bruce Pendelton III (Chicago, Ill./McKendree/Plainfield Central), running back Jessi Plunkett (Evergreen Park, Ill./DuPage/Brother Rice), wide receiver/punter Joe Polselli (Evergreen Park, Ill./St. Rita), wide receiver Kyle Quinn (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), quarterback Stuart Ross (Springfield, Ill./Springfield Southeast), defensive back Nick Schultz (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka Community), Smith, defensive back Nicholas Sopczak (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) and defensive lineman Jeremiah Swanigan (Chicago, Ill./DuPage/Morton West).
  • Ross threw for 152 yards, completing 18 of his 30 passes, with a pair of touchdowns. He also had six carries for 17 yards.
  • Plunkett ran the ball 21 times for 74 yards and a score, with a long rush of 14 yards. He caught three passes for 11 yards, as well.
  • Polselli recorded a team-best 68 receiving yards on five catches with a touchdown. He launched three punts for 150 yards, an average of 50.0 yards per kick, landing one inside the 20-yard line and booting a long of 64 yards.
  • Hixson came away with a game-high six receptions for 42 yards and a score.
  • Benes was 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts and he kicked a season-long 36-yard field goal.
  • Junior linebacker Chris Swayne (LaSalle, Ill./LaSalle-Peru Township) posted a team-leading seven tackles (two solos) with a quarterback hurry.
  • Countryman made six stops (three solos), intercepted his second pass of the season, a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
  • Fitzgerald collected six tackles (four solos), a tackle for loss for 10 yards and he scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the year.
  • Junior linebacker Terry Elias Jr. (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) tallied four tackles (one solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss for five yards and 0.5 sacks for three yards.
  • Pendleton III and freshman defensive back Zach Norred (Manteno, Ill./St. Rita) each finished the game with three tackles and an interception, respectively, with Norred adding a pass breakup as well.
  • Neither team was able to score in the opening frame, however SXU struck first after going 57 yards on 12 plays that overlapped the end of the first quarter into the second period resulting in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ross to Polselli at the 12:28 mark.
  • On the next play from scrimmage, Countryman intercepted a pass in front of the Judson bench that was returned to the endzone, but a penalty on the return negated the score. Six plays later, Benes split the uprights to push the lead to 10-0 with 10:20 left in the half.
  • Marching 74 yards on 12 plays, the Cougars extended their advantage to 17-0 when Ross found Hixson for a 13-yard touchdown pass with just 40 seconds left until halftime.
  • SXU forced a three-and-out on the next Eagle drive, setting up Smith's 70-yard punt return for a score.
  • Saint Xavier chewed up 7:12 off the game clock, going 80 yards on 15 plays that resulted in Fitzgerald rumbling into the endzone from 10 yards out on fourth and two with 11:09 remaining the in the fourth quarter.
  • JU responded on its next possession, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run but their two-point conversion attempt was stopped.
  • Plunkett capped the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run with 3:22 left in regulation. Freshman kicker Luis Perez (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) scored his first collegiate point after he made the extra point.
Print Friendly Version