CHICAGO – The Saint Xavier University football team (5-4/3-0 MSFA Midwest) had 440 yards of total offense with 24 first downs, along with two defensive scores in a 44-22 victory over Judson University (Ill.) in Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League action Saturday afternoon at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. Freshman wide receiver
Jayden Armstrong (Romeoville, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) had six receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns, senior running back
Caden Brann (Valparaiso, Ind./Monmouth/Wheeling) rushed for 65 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season, and redshirt junior defensive lineman
David Burton (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway West) had a team-high six tackles (three solos), two fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks for five yards and a fumble return for a touchdown.
- Senior quarterback Blainey Dowling (Chicago, Ill./Eastern Illinois/Mount Carmel) threw for 227 yards on 11-for-20 passing with two touchdown passes, and he added 15 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown.
- Redshirt senior wide receiver Joey Thompson (Homer Glen, Ill./Midland/Western Illinois/Mount Carmel) hauled in five catches for a career-high 110 yards.
- Sophomore kicker Christian Casillas (Alsip, Ill./Eisenhower) was 3-for-3 on extra-point attempts and he kicked a 27-yard field goal.
- Junior punter Ayden Sheppard (Spring Grove, Ill./Grant Community) averaged 40.3 yards on three punts with a three landing inside the 20-yard line. He also kicked an extra-point.
- Graduate student linebacker Carter Wynn (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall) had nine tackles as well (five solos) had six tackles as well (one solo) with 0.5 tackles for loss (TFL) for a yard and a quarterback hurry.
- Junior defensive back Zach Norred (Manteno, Ill./St. Rita) posted five tackles (three solos) with a sack for four yards, a forced fumble and a QB hurry.
- Freshman defensive back Zoelen Terry (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) made his collegiate debut collecting five stops (three solos).
- Senior defensive lineman Semaj Williams (Chicago, Ill./King College Prep) finished with five tackles (three solos), 2.0 TFL for 16 yards and a sack for six yards.
- Freshman defensive lineman Nate Cole (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) and freshman defensive back Nathan Gonzalez (Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community) each had a tackle and an interception. Cole had a 42-yard pick-six and Gonzalez had a return of 13 yards.
- The Cougars scored on their opening drive, going 80 yards on eight plays with Armstrong making a 29-yard touchdown catch at the 11:49 mark of the opening frame.
- Armstrong made a 52-yard catch and run for a score on the next drive as SXU went 74 yards on nine plays with 5:51 left in the first quarter.
- The Eagles got on the board three plays after a long kick return, scoring on an 18-yard quarterback scramble at the 4:14 mark.
- A 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Dowling just after the start of the second period at 13:15.
- Norred caused a fumble near the 25-yard line on the next possession, and was scooped up by Burton at the 15, who rumbled into the end zone with players draped over him for a 28-7 lead just over a minute later.
- Brann scored his first touchdown as a Cougar midway through the frame from three yards out to end a six-play, 54-yard drive at 7:10.
- Judson scored before the two-minute warning on a 25-yard touchdown pass as SXU held a 35-14 lead at halftime.
- After a scoreless third quarter, Casillas booted a 27-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 38-14 nine second into the final period.
- JU took over at the Saint Xavier 20-yard line after a turnover and scored on an eight-yard touchdown pass. They were successful on the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 38-22. Their onside kick attempt was recovered by the Cougars.
- Cole capped the scoring with his 42-yard interception return for a score with 38 seconds remaining after the Eagles quarterback has hit as he threw.
Saint Xavier (5-4/3-0 MSFA Midwest) makes its way to Indianapolis, Ind. to play No. 7 ranked Marian University (Ind.) in a clash between the two unbeaten programs left in the MSFA Midwest League on Saturday, November 7. The game is scheduled for a 12:05 pm central start.
