CHICAGO, Ill. --- Neither a game-long rainfall nor the University of St. Francis defense could slow down Saint Xavier University's high-powered offense on Saturday (Oct. 26) as the NAIA No.11 ranked Cougars scored touchdowns on each of their first five possessions en route to a 44-28 victory.
 

Saint Xavier (5-2) needed just the first 17 minutes of the contest to open up a 34-6 lead with four of the scores coming in four plays or less. In total, those four series resulted in 222 yards on only 11 plays.
 

Each of the first four scores came through the air and the arm of Alex Martinez, who completed 24-of-35 passes for 341 yards. His favorite targets were Nick Czeszewski (8 recp., 112 yards) and Harold Davis (6-96), who combined for three of the four passing scores, including two from Davis.
 

St. Francis quarterback Major Dedmond (FR/Freeport, Ill.) attempted to match Martinez's production, but on the ground. For the second game in a row, he set personal-best marks with his 26 carries and 143 yards, which was one more yard than the week before. He also scored two touchdowns – one from a season-long 57 yards – to give him five in the past two weeks. Through the air, Dedmond was 9-for-21 for 66 yards and one touchdown.
 

That touchdown went to Brandon Ruffin (SR/Peoria, Ill.), who tallied his first score of the season. He finished the day with five catches for 41 yards. He also returned three kickoffs for 110 yards, or a 36.6-yard return average. 
 

Re'John Williams (SR/Brooklyn, NY) caught the other touchdown pass from backup Jamal Salaam (JR/Hanford, Calif.) as part of a three-catch, 47-yard day for him. That 23-yard reception helped the Saints both outscore (15-7) and outgain Saint Xavier (183-124) in the closing half.
 

For the game, however, the hosts finished with 519 yards of total offense on 69 plays opposite 340 yards in 90 plays for the Saints. On the ground, 156 of Saint Xavier's 178 yards came from Vance McShane on 19 carries. He also accounted for the Cougars' two rushing touchdowns.
 

Despite both teams being in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League, the contest was considered a non-conference affair as the two schools decided to make it a rare two-game series when Lindenwood University Belleville dropped its football program this summer resulting in open dates for both programs. The league matchup comes in the season finale for both teams on Nov. 16 in Joliet.
 

The Saints (2-6) return to league action next week, hosting Missouri Baptist University at 1 pm at ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium.