Defiance, Ohio – The Saint Xavier University football team (1-4/0-0 MSFA Midwest) made its way into the redzone to the Defiance 12-yard line in the final minute of play, trailing by five points, after taking possession at their own 32-yard line after a forced fumble caused by senior defensive back
Owen Schickel (Chicago, Ill./Ave Maria/Mount Carmel) and recovered by senior defensive back
Taj McClellan (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy), however they were unable to reach the endzone in a 35-30 loss to Defiance College (Ohio) in a Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) crossover contest Saturday afternoon at Coresell Stadium in Defiance, Ohio. Senior quarterback
Blainey Dowling (Chicago, Ill./Eastern Illinois/Mount Carmel) recorded his third game with 300 or more passing yards, completing 33-of-53 passes for 321 yards, along with three touchdowns, an interception, and a rushing touchdown.
- Freshman wide receiver Coen Demack (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) came away with 14 receptions, tied for third-most in single-game team history, for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
- Freshman wide receiver Jayden Armstrong (Romeoville, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) caught his first collegiate touchdown pass, finishing with four receptions for 37 yards.
- Freshman wide receiver Eddie McClain (Joliet, Ill./Nazareth Academy) hauled in five passes for 59 yards.
- Redshirt senior wide receiver Mario Price (Chicago Heights, Ill./Calumet New Tech) collected five catches as well for 48 yards.
- Senior running back Jacob Fisher (Medora, Ill./Southwestern) tallied a team-high 41 rushing yards on nine carries.
- Sophomore kicker Christian Casillas (Alsip, Ill./Eisenhower) was 3-for-3 on extra-point attempts, and he made a 37-yard field goal.
- Senior defensive lineman Semaj Williams (Chicago, Ill./King College Prep) was credited with a team-best 12 tackles (six solos) with 2.5 tackles for loss (TFL) for 10 yards and a sack for six yards.
- Schickel posted nine stops (six solos) with his forced fumble.
- Graduate student linebacker Carter Wynn (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall) booked eight tackles (four solos) with 2.5 TFL for two yards.
- Freshman defensive lineman Gavin Farley (Mokena, Ill./Providence Catholic) made six stops (four solos) as well, adding 2.5 TFL for five yards and a sack for four yards.
- Senior linebacker Pierce Brann (Valparaiso, Ind./Monmouth/Wheeler) tallied five tackles (three solos), 1.5 TFL for 10 yards and a sack for 10 yards.
- DC took a 7-0 lead, scoring on its opening drive on nine plays, going 75-yards before scoring on a 16-yard rushing touchdown.
- SXU tied the game late in the first quarter when Dowling found Armstrong for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The drive lasted 10-plays for 82 yards.
- The Yellow Jackets responded with a 43-yard touchdown pass, scoring just three plays later, to go up 14-7 with 14:54 left in the half.
- Saint Xavier retied the game on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Dowling to Demack, using only 2:21 off the game clock on a 75-yard drive in just six plays.
- Sophomore defensive back Jaden Lee (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) blocked a punt that was returned 13 yards by junior tight end Nate Kalk (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) to the Defiance two-yard line, but a pair of penalties by the Cougars resulted in 37-yard field goal by Casillas to put SXU up 17-14 at the 10:04 mark.
- DC went up 21-17 on an 18-yard touchdown pass on its next possession, going 86 yards in eight plays, and hold the lead until halftime.
- The Yellow Jackets extended their advantage to 28-17, one play after intercepting Dowling, with a 28-yard touchdown pass early in the third period.
- Midway through the fourth quarter, Dowling scored from one yard out, capping an 18-play, 82-yard drive. The two-point conversion attempt failed, putting Saint Xavier down 28-23.
- Defiance took a 35-23 lead on its next time down the field, scoring on a two-yard rushing touchdown.
- Demack caught his second touchdown of the game from five yards out just after the two-minute warning at 1:51. The on-side kick by the Cougars was recovered by DC before Schickel forced the turnover.
Saint Xavier (1-4/0-0 MSFA Midwest) celebrates Homecoming on Saturday, October 10, when they take on Lawrence Tech University (Mich.) in their final MSFA crossover match-up. The game is set for a 12:00 pm kickoff at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field.
