ST. LOUIS --- For the second week in a row, it was the University of St. Francis football team's special teams unit that saved the day for the Saints in a thrilling 28-21 victory to open Mid-States Football Association Midwest League play on Saturday afternoon.  Ryan King's block and Logan Johnson's 37-yard return into the end zone with just over two minutes remaining in the contest stamped the win for head coach Joe Curry's club.

That was just one of three big plays for USF's special teams on the day, while St. Francis' defense stopped a number of threats for the second straight week.  Last Saturday, the Saints' defense thwarted Siena Heights University three of the five times it reached St. Francis territory.  Led by Michael R. Johnson with eight tackles this Saturday, they stopped the Spartans six of nine times with two interceptions, two missed field goals and two losses on downs.

USF's offense, which was stymied all afternoon, was the benefactor of three plays to set up each of its three touchdowns.  The first one came on the opening kick when James Williams delivered a 38-yard return to put the Saints 55 yards from the end zone.

USF methodically marched down the field on 13 plays with Sam Tumilty's three-yard run capping the drive 5:38 into the contest.  The 55-yard series would account for better than one-third of the St. Francis offense on the day as the rest of the afternoon would not come as easy. 

Of their 13 possessions, the Saints went three-and-out eight times, picked up one first down each on two other drives and produced touchdowns on the three other series.  They also did not complete a pass after the opening drive when they had three go for 19 yards.  Tumilty completed just three of his 15 attempts for the 19 yards to go with one interception.

Set up by Scott Tumilty's 51-yard kickoff return right after Missouri Baptist knotted the score at seven-all, the Saints regained the lead after Sam Tumilty plunged into the end zone from four yards out to close out a 10-play, 44-yard possession with just over five minutes remaining until halftime.  One of the key plays in the drive was Kemond Cohran producing a four-yard run on a fourth-and-one play from the MBU 35-yard line.

Missouri Baptist (2-3, 0-1) forced the second tie of the game after producing its second 63-yard scoring drive of the game to open the second half.  One series later, however, Jalen Cooper intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards to put the Saints 14 yards away from the end zone.

Three plays later, Sam Tumilty had his third score of the game, this time from six yards out.  He finished the contest as the Saints' leading ground gainer with 61 yards on 22 carries.  Keenan Hailey added another 53 yards on 17 carries.

USF ended the game with just 154 yards on its 65 plays.  Missouri Baptist had the same amount of plays resulting in 295 yards of offense.  Of St. Francis' total, 113 of the 154 yards came on its three scoring drives with the other 10 series only netting 41 yards.

Seeking its first win in the all-time series, Missouri Baptist would not go away, making the Saints pay late for their only turnover of the game.  Demingo Loggins set up the third tie of the game with his interception and 19-yard return to place the ball at the St. Francis 29-yard line and the Missouri Baptist offense took over from there to tie the game with 5:03 to play.

The Spartan offense got the ball right back after a three-and-out series for USF before King and Johnson saved the day for the Saints with their game-altering block and return.  The play came just one week after King recorded 3.5 sacks among his five tackles.

Ashton Strother, Sam Tumilty's counterpart, finished with 216 yards passing on 22-of-36 accuracy, but did throw three interceptions.  The final one by Nick Mabutas thwarted MBU's final drive inside St. Francis territory.

Recording USF's other pick was Angel Mata.

NOTES: The victory kept USF's perfect record against Missouri Baptist intact.  The Saints have now won all six games in the series … Mabutas' interception was his third in as many weeks with two coming in the final quarter … After making three catches for 30 yards last week, De'Whon Gavin accounted for two of USF's three completions on Saturday for 23 yards … Brian Maday tied a season-high with one of his seven punts covering 52 yards … Williams' 38-yard return was also the longest of the season for him … USF's touchdown drive to open the game were its first points in the opening 15 minutes this season … The Saints are back home next Saturday when they host Trinity International for a 1 pm kickoff.

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