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Saint Xavier University

Official Athletics Website of the Saint Xavier University Cougars

Dowling_9_5_26
31
Saint Xavier (IL) SAINT XA 0-1
38
Winner Taylor (IN) TAYLOR ( 1-1
Saint Xavier (IL) SAINT XA
0-1
31
Final
38
Taylor (IN) TAYLOR (
1-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SAINT XA Saint Xavier (IL) 0 24 0 7 31
TAYLOR ( Taylor (IN) 7 14 10 7 38

Game Recap: Football |

SXU Football Comes Up Short in 38-31 Setback to Taylor

Upland, Ind. – The Saint Xavier University football team (0-1, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) marched into Taylor University (Ind.) territory with under two minutes left in regulation, however the Cougars' efforts to tie or take the lead came up short in a 38-31 defeat Saturday night in a Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) crossover contest at Turner Stadium in Upland, Ind. Senior quarterback Blainey Dowling (Chicago, Ill./Eastern Illinois/Mount Carmel) made quite the debut for SXU as he threw for 449 yards on 34-for-64 passing with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 71 rushing yards on nine carries. His 449 passing yards are the most by a player for Saint Xavier in their first game with the team, and fifth-most in single-game team history. Dowling is the first quarterback for the Cougars to throw for over 400 yards in a game since former standout Alex Martinez (2016-19) threw for 432 yards at St. Ambrose University (Iowa) on November 2, 2019.

Also making an immediate impact for SXU was freshman wide receiver Coen Demack (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) who hauled in 10 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns. He tied for second in team history for touchdown receptions in a game, and his 185 receiving yards placed him 16th in single-game team history. Redshirt senior wide receiver Mario Price (Chicago Heights, Ill./Calumet New Tech) added seven catches for 148 yards and a score. Demack and Price are the first Saint Xavier teammates to have 100 or more receiving yards in the same game since former NAIA All-American Justin Pringle (2019-23) and Joe Polselli (2020-24) had 138 yards and 106 yards, respectively, vs. St. Thomas University (Fla.) on September 10, 2022.
  • Redshirt junior wide receiver Charles Campbell (Chicago, Ill./Quincy/Reavis) caught six passes for 49 yards.
  • Defensively, senior defensive back Owen Schickel (Chicago, Ill./Ave Maria/Mount Carmel) was credited with a team-high 13 tackles (10 solos) and he had a pass breakup.
  • Freshman defensive back Nathan Gonzalez (Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community) had a big collegiate debut as well, coming away with eight tackles (six solos), two tackles for loss for 10 yards and a sack for nine yards.
  • Graduate student linebacker Carter Wynn (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall) tallied seven stops (five solos), a quarterback hurry, and he converted a fake punt with a rushing attempt of 39 yards.
  • Junior kicker/punter Ayden Sheppard (Spring Grove, Ill./Grant Community) was 4-for-4 on point after attempts, booted a 22-yard field goal, had six kickoffs for an average of 53.8 yards with a touchback, and two punts for 88 yards with a long of 45.
  • The Trojans rushed for 450 yards on 57 carries in the game with five rushing touchdowns. It was the second-highest rushing yards allowed by SXU since Trinity International University (Ill.) had 452 rushing yards on November 8, 2003 in Deerfield, Ill.
  • Taylor opened the scoring with a three-yard rushing touchdown that ended an eight-play 28-yard drive on its first possession at the 10:36 mark.
  • Three seconds into the start of the second quarter, Dowling found Demack for a 10-yard strike to tie the score after a six-play, 52-yard march.
  • Sheppard drilled a 22-yard field goal, the first of his collegiate career, to put SXU up 10-7 with 10:47 left in the half.
  • TU scored on a 15-yard run with 9:09 to go in the frame after a lightning delay halted play. They extended their lead to 21-10 with a 53-yard gallop by going 80 yards in just four plays at the 3:47 mark.
  • Saint Xavier responded on the next play from scrimmage as Dowling connected with Price for an 84-yard catch and run, taking just 19 seconds off the clock.
  • The Cougars forced a punt on the next drive, taking over with 50 seconds left before halftime. A 62-yard catch and run by Demack from Dowling, on the next play, put SXU up 24-21 at the break.
  • Taylor tied the game at 24-24 with a 24-yard field goal with 9:55 left in the third period.
  • Two big runs pushed the Trojan lead to 38-24. A 68-yard score capped a three-play, 80-yard drive late in the third quarter. A Saint Xavier turnover deep in TU territory led to a 95-yard rushing score with 13:10 left in regulation.
  • Demack caught his third touchdown pass of the game, from eight yards out to end a nine-play, 80-yard drive.
  • The Cougars forced a three-and-out, taking over possession with 2:45 left at their own 22-yard line. They reached the Taylor 42-yard line before a 4th and one attempt was stopped.
Saint Xavier (0-1/0-0 MSFA Midwest) plays NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, ranked No. 12 in the NCAA D-III preseason polls, on Saturday, September 12 in Whitewater, Wis. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 pm kickoff at Perkins Stadium.
 
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