JOLIET, Ill. --- Aided by its longest winning streak since the 2016 season, the University of St. Francis football team moved into sole possession of first place in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League with its 34-0 victory over Judson University at Joliet Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Winners of three straight to remain perfect in league play at 3-0 have the Saints one game better than four of the other seven members in the division, all of whom sit at 2-1.  The victory also pushed head coach Joe Curry's team over the .500 mark for the first time this season at 3-2. Judson, which was coming off an overtime victory against St. Ambrose University, fell to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the MSFA.

Defense was the story of the day as the Saints rang up eight sacks for 56 yards in loss, stopped Judson four separate times inside the red zone, set up two scores and limited the Eagles to just 158 yards of total offense.

Chris Johnson led a contingent of nine different Saints to total at least five tackles. The senior linebacker accounted for two of the team's sacks and one of five tackles for loss as part of a ten-tackle game for him. He also had an interception to set up USF's final touchdown of the day.

Other key contributors included Jermaine Ross (8 stops, 1 sack), Angel Mata (7 tackles, 2 for loss), Cameron Holman (5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss), and Logan Johnson (4 tackles, 2 sacks).

USF's first stop inside the red zone was also Judson's deepest penetration (St. Francis three-yard line) and its longest drive (16 plays) only to have 10-plus-yard sacks from Ross and Holman and two delay-of-game penalties eventually force a punt.

Each of the next two red-zone opportunities came on Judson's last possession of the first half and its first drive of the third quarter. Jalen Cooper stopped the first one with an interception just outside the goal line, while sacks from the Johnson triumvirate – Logan the first time and the Johnson brothers, Chris and Michael R. Johnson, on the combo platter the second time – halted the second drive after the Eagles got as close as the seven-yard line.

The last red-zone stop came after Judson got as close as the St. Francis 15-yard line following a fumble recovery, only to have Mata step up on fourth down with a two-yard loss to secure the Saints' first shutout since Oct. 13, 2018 (55-0 over Lindenwood-Belleville).

Besides Johnson's interception to set up one of five Saint touchdowns on the day, there was also Jorden Murphy and T.J. Neal, who provided an 18-yard loss on fourth down and gave St. Francis possession at Judson's two-yard line.

Offensively, Perre' Barbarin had the biggest day of his St. Francis career rushing for 118 yards and three touchdowns, both of which were personal bests. His touchdown runs, all of which came in the fourth quarter when the Saints pulled away, went for 17, two and seven yards. On the latter drive, he accounted for 51 of the 61 yards and seven of the nine plays.

Ravon Johnson and Sam Tumilty hooked up for the first two scores, including the lone points in the opening half (8-0) when Johnson juggled an 18-yard pass before hauling it in while on his back in the end zone. Their other connection went for 49 yards with 4:23 to play in the third quarter.

Tumilty, who produced 49 yards on the ground, had his most accurate day through the air in his brief time as a Saint, completing 13-of-16 passes for 135 yards with the two touchdowns and one interception. Johnson had five catches for 89 yards.

By day's end, the Saint offense totaled 326 yards with a 5-of-8 success rate on third down. Unlike Judson, USF also converted in the red zone with four touchdowns in five opportunities.

SIDELINES
For the second game in a row, USF's offense scored on its first possession of the contest.

Over the past four games, the Saint defense has held the opposition to just seven points in the closing half. USF has outscored its opponents 54-7 in the second half since Week 1.

Four of USF's five scoring drives on Saturday went for 60 or more yards.

Despite completing 15 passes, Judson managed just 69 yards through the air, or 4.6 yards per reception.

Up Next
The Saints head west to face St. Ambrose University in another MSFA Midwest League contest. Kickoff is slated for 1 pm at Brady Street Stadium.

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