JOLIET, Ill. --- A failed two-point point-after touchdown attempt with 20 seconds remaining in regulation was all that kept University of St. Francis from forcing overtime against NAIA No. 10-ranked Saint Xavier University on Saturday as the Saints came up on the short end of a 29-27 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League decision on Senior Day at ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium.
 

Behind the athleticism of Dwayne Milton (SR/Machesney Park, Ill.) and Major Dedmond (FR/Freeport, Ill.), the St. Francis offense threatened Saint Xavier all afternoon long, reaching Cougar territory on 12 of its 13 possessions on the day, including getting inside the visitors' 30-yard line all seven times in the second half. Milton ran for a game-high 156 yards on a school-record 40 carries, while Dedmond accounted for all four of USF's touchdowns and gained 121 yards on the ground. He also completed a season-high 20-of-28 passes for 143 yards.
 

USF's running attack also kept Saint Xavier's No.4-ranked passing offense (331.9 yards per game) and No.9 scoring offense (41.2 points per game) off the field for all but 23 minutes. In fact, the only quarter in which the Cougars (8-2, 6-0) had a better time of possession came in the first quarter (8:55-6:05) when they built a 14-0 lead in the game's first eight minutes, 25 seconds.
 

From there, the Saint offense more than doubled-up on Saint Xavier over the final three quarters (29:53-14:07), including all but 3:35 of the third quarter.
 

That is also when the Saints had their best opportunity to overtake the guests. After trailing 20-7 at the break, USF opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 59-yard touchdown drive to make it a 20-14 contest. Two series later, USF thought it had the contest tied at 20 when Dedmond found Brandon Ruffin (SR/Peoria, Ill.) in the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown at the end of the quarter. That play, however, was wiped out when the Saints were penalized for having an ineligible receiver downfield. 
 

It wound up being the second of four straight possessions in which head coach Joe's Curry's club got as close as the Saint Xavier 22-, 23-, 16- and 27-yard lines only to be thwarted each time on downs. For the game, the Saints were 0-for-6 on fourth-down conversions.
 

Saint Xavier would not give USF another chance at erasing that six-point deficit, rebuilding its lead back up to 26-14 after a touchdown and failed two-point PAT attempt with just under six minutes to play. The Saints were quick to respond, pulling to within 26-21 on Dedmond's 11-yard touchdown and Josh Holberry's (SO/Huddersfield, England) PAT kick.
 

Seven plays and 2:29 later, Saint Xavier's Mike Iturbe converted his third field goal of the game and second from 45 yards out to increase the margin to eight points, 29-21, with 2:11 remaining. It turned out to be the deciding factor in the end after the Saints responded with Dedmond's fourth touchdown of the game when he pile-drove his way into the end zone on a quarterback sneak from one yard out with just 20 seconds to play.
 

Going for the two-point attempt to force a tie at 29, the Saints came up empty when Dedmond's play-action pass back to the left side went beyond the outstretched hands of Perre' Barbarin (JR/New Orleans, La.).
 

USF did have one more opportunity on the ensuing onside kickoff, but Saint Xavier covered up the loose ball after it was initially touched by the Saints to avert the upset.
 

St. Francis finished the afternoon outgaining Saint Xavier, 470-414, including 355-103 on the ground. The Saints also totaled 100 plays on the day, or 29 more than Saint Xavier.
 

Saint Xavier won the passing game behind Alex Martinez's 353 yards on 25-of-45 accuracy. He threw for two touchdowns, while also tallying the Cougars' lone rushing touchdown.
 

USF's defensive unit did force three sacks and two interceptions of Martinez, both of which were made by Re'John Williams (JR/Brooklyn, New York). He also finished as the Saints' third-best tackler on the day with eight stops to go along with one pass breakup.
 

USF's leading tackler was Rio Strama (JR/Shorewood, Ill.) with 11 stops. Mike Gruben (SR/Joliet, Ill.) closed out his career with nine tackles, including one sack and one-half tackle for loss.
 

USF's defense also set up its first score when Oshikhai Ebikhumi (RFR/Darien, Ill.) forced a fumble of Martinez and Blake Evans (JR/Manhattan, Ill.) returned it nine yards to the Saint Xavier 45-yard line. Seven plays later, the Saints were on the board for the first time on a Dedmond nine-yard run with 11:07 to play in the second quarter.
 

Iturbe followed with his 38- and 45-yard field goals, the latter coming with just two seconds remaining in the opening half to send Saint Xavier to a 20-7 advantage at the break.
 

USF recognized its 21 seniors before the game. That group was made up of Guadalupe Arevalos (Compton, Calif.), Malcolm Britton (Pearland, Texas), Zach Buikema (Bourbonnais, Ill.), Dominic and Bill Cooper (New Lenox, Ill.), Mason DeLong (Bourbonnais, Ill.), Gruben, JC Hernandez (Joliet, Ill.), Keagan James (Sheridan, Mich.), Michael Johnson (Plainfield, Ill.), Tyler Keene (Burien, Wash.), Milton, Nick Murray (Manteno, Ill.), Conrad Ochotoreno (Morro Bay, Calif.), Jacob Pullen (Joliet, Ill.), Kyle Pursel (Plainfield, Ill.), Bennie Radford (Caledonia, Ill.), Kody Randa (Sandwich, Ill.), Alex Ruettiger (Joliet, Ill.), Ruffin and Isaiah Williams (Brentwood, Calif.).
 

The contest closed out the season for the Saints, who finish with marks of 3-8 overall and 2-4 in the MSFA.