INDIANAPOLIS – In a matchup of the team remaining unbeaten teams in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League, the Saint Xavier University football team (5-5/3-1 MSFA Midwest) was defeated by No. 6 ranked Marian University 70-14 Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, Ind. Senior quarterback
Blainey Dowling (Chicago, Ill./Eastern Illinois/Mount Carmel) finished 30-for-57 for 217 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. Freshman wide receiver
Coen Demack (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) added to his NAIA leading catch total as he had five receptions for a team-best 77 years. Demack now has 82 receptions for 974 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
- Dowling also launched a 55-yard punt that landed inside the 20-yard line.
- Senior running back Caden Brann (Valparaiso, Ind./Monmouth/Wheeling) ran for 64 yards on nine carries, one yard shy of equaling his season-high. He added seven receptions for 20 yards.
- Freshman wide receiver Jayden Armstrong (Romeoville, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) made seven catches for 69 yards. He also had six kick returns for 97 yards.
- Freshman wide receiver Antonio Benson (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) had seven receptions as well for 68 yards and a touchdown.
- Freshman wide receiver Eddie McClain (Joliet, Ill./Nazareth Academy) snagged three passes for 28 yards and his first collegiate score.
- Senior defensive back Owen Schickel (Chicago, Ill./Ave Maria/Mount Carmel) was credited with a game-high 10 tackles (eight solos) with a tackle for loss (TFL) for one yard.
- Junior defensive back Zach Norred (Manteno, Ill./St. Rita) intercepted his team-leading third passes of the year, along with six stops (four solos) and a TFL for three yards.
- Freshman defensive lineman Caden Phillips (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley) collected a career-best five tackles (three solos).
- Redshirt sophomore defensive back Anas Everette (Burbank, Ill./Quincy/Reavis) totaled four stops (two solos) and he came away with his first collegiate interception.
- Marian scored four touchdowns in the opening period on a six-yard rush, a 10-yard rush, a 65-yard pass and a 79-yard rush to end the quarter. They went up 35-0 after a 37-yard touchdown pass with 9:10 left in the half.
- Dowling connected with McClain on a 15-yard touchdown on the next possession to end an eight-play, 60-yard drive.
- The Knights added two more scores in the final two minutes on a two-yard rushing touchdown and a nine-yard passing touchdown to hold a 49-7 advantage at the break.
- In the third quarter, MU scored on a six-yard rushing touchdown and an interception returned 43 yards for a score.
- A 14-play, 75-yard drive down the field resulted in Benson grabbing his third touchdown pass of the year, a 14-yard strike, midway through the third frame.
- Marian capped the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run at the 7:28 mark of the fourth quarter.
Saint Xavier (5-5/3-1 MSFA Midwest) celebrates 'Senior Day' on Saturday, November 14, before their MSFA Midwest League contest with Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.). The game is slated for a 12:00 pm kickoff at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill.
