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Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

Elias_action_IWU
3
Saint Xavier (IL) SXU 0-1 , 0
31
Winner Indiana Wesleyan (IN IWU 1-1 , 0
Saint Xavier (IL) SXU
0-1 , 0
3
Final
31
Indiana Wesleyan (IN IWU
1-1 , 0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SXU Saint Xavier (IL) 3 0 0 0 3
IWU Indiana Wesleyan (IN 0 17 14 0 31

Game Recap: Football |

SXU Football Taken Down by No. 6 IWU in Season Opener, 31-3

Marion, Ind. – The Saint Xavier University football team (0-1, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) started the 2025 season with a 31-3 loss to No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan University in Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) crossover matchup Saturday evening at Wildcat Stadium in Marion, Ind. Senior linebacker Terry Elias Jr. (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) finished with a game-high 14 tackles and a pass breakup. His 14 tackles are tied for his second-highest total in a game, and it was the 11th time in his career that Elias Jr. collected 10 or more tackles in a contest. The Cougars were outgained 372-189 in total offense, though SXU did collected more net rushing yards, 83-77.
  • Senior quarterback Dominic D'Ambrosio (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) threw for 103 yards on 9-for-25 passing with two interceptions. On the ground, he rushed nine time for 35 yards with a long of 17.
  • Senior running back Tyreese Lee (Chicago, Ill./Moraine Valley/Eisenhower) had 13 carries for 45 yards.
  • Freshman running back Kendall Netters (Dunlap, Ill./Peoria) made his collegiate debut, rushing for 11 yards on four attempts.
  • Fifth-year senior wide receiver Ronnie Foster (Peoria Heights, Ill./Peoria Heights) caught two passes for a team-leading 39 yards.
  • Senior wide receiver Marquel Porter (Calumet Park, Ill./DuPage/Richards) hauled in three receptions for 29 yards.
  • Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kameron Hopkins (Bolingbrook, Ill./Minooka Community) caught his first three collegiate passes for 23 yards.
  • Sophomore wide receiver Stephon Gist Jr. (Dolton, Ill./Quincy/Lincoln-Way East), making his debut for Saint Xavier, had two catches for 15 yards, rushed for one yard and he returned three kickoffs for 47 yards.
  • Freshman kicker Christian Casillas (Alsip, Ill./Eisenhower) made quite the debut, booting a 42-yard field goal on his first collegiate attempt.
  • Redshirt junior defensive back Alex Art (Round Lake Beach, Ill./Grant Community) and senior linebacker Chris Swayne (LaSalle, Ill./LaSalle-Peru) each were credited with eight stops.
  • Redshirt sophomore defensive back Cam Manney (Chicago, Ill./Curie) tallied seven tackles, two pass breakups and an interception.
  • Junior defensive back Taj McClellan (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) came away with seven tackles and four pass breakups, while sophomore defensive back Zach Norred (Manteno, Ill./St. Rita) added seven stops and a pass breakup.
  • On the opening drive of the season, the Cougars used up 4:43 off the game clock going 51 yards on nine plays to set up the 42-yard field goal by Casillas for a 3-0 advantage.
  • IWU tied the game at 3-3 with 10:39 left in the second quarter after a nine-play, 42-yard drive.
  • Indiana Wesleyan added a pair of touchdowns, a seven-yard pass at the 4:22 mark, and a one-yard plunge for a score with :27 to go, to carry a 17-3 lead into halftime.
  • The Wildcats came out the break and went 77 yards on five plays, capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 24-3.
  • IWU scored the final points of the game on a one-yard touchdown run with 6:36 remaining in the third period.
Saint Xavier (0-1/0-0 MSFA Midwest) takes on NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field for their home opener on Saturday, September 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm in Chicago, Ill.
 
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