GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, Oct. 8 • 1 pm CT
Busey Bank Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium
Joliet, Ill.

Series History
Overall: St. Francis leads 12-8
First: St. Francis 16, at Trinity International 0 (10/21/00)
Last: St. Francis 42, at Trinity International 21 (10/1/22)
Streak: St. Francis has won each of the last five meetings.

The Two Coaches
USF: Joe Curry
Alma Mater: USF 2001
Career: 52-56 (11th year)
at USF: 52-56 (11th year)

TIU: Willie Tillman
Alma Mater: Purdue University
Career: 3-13 (9th year)
At TIU: 3-13 (9th year)

TOP STORYLINES
• The Saints have won each of their last two games on special teams' touchdowns in the second half.
 
• Trinity International's most points scored this year has been 19, while the least amount it has given up has been 28.
 
• The Saints have won each of their last two decisions, while Trinity International has dropped seven games in a row dating back to last year.

• Nick Mabutas will be looking to extend his interception string to four games after having one pick in each of the last three USF games with two coming in clutch fourth-quarter situations.
 
• All five St. Francis rushing touchdowns this year have come from Sam Tumilty.

GAME NOTES
THE HEAD COACH: Joe Curry is in his 11th season as the Saints' head coach, which ties him as the longest serving coach in school history.  He has surpassed program founder Gordie Gillespie, who served as the head coach for eight seasons, and is now tied with Mike Slovick.  Slovick served the program from 1994 through 2004 and mentored Curry at one time.  Curry is also the winningest coach in the program with 52 victories and second in winning percentage (.481).  Gillespie maintains the top spot in winning percentage at .593.

ABOUT TRINITY INTERNATIONAL: The Trojans are still seeking their first win of the season.  Thev have lost their last seven in a row dating back to last year.  Their highest point total in a single game this year has been 19 points, while the least amount of points they have yielded was 28 in the opener.  Since then, they have not allowed less than 41 points per game.  Offensively, Trinity International has averaged 253.6 yards per game with 152.5 coming through the air and 103.0 on the ground.  Last week against St. Ambrose, the Trojans struggled to get their passing game going, completing just 12 of their 38 attempts (32 pct.) for 65 yards.  In their last three games, they have not had more than 105 yards through the air.  The opposition has averaged 424.4 yards per game with an even split between running and passing.  TIU's highest ranking comes with its punt return team, which averages 18.2 yards per return to rank fourth in the nation.  Cameron Jones is the key threat having already returned one punt 74 yards for a score.  Freshman Liam Mickle directs the offensive fortunes of the Trojans.  He has completed 52 of his 110 attempts (47.3 percent) for 533 yards.  He has thrown a pair of touchdowns against six interceptions.  Jones is the go-to receiver having hauled in 33 passes for 389 yards for an average of 11.8 yards per catch.  On the ground, the two primary ballcarriers have been Derek Lowe (64-254, 3 TDs) and Javier Acosta (42-166).  Cameron Outlaw handles punting duties (34.5 avg.) and is one of three players to have attempted an extra point.  TIU is 4-for-6 on PATs and 0-for-3 on field goals.  The Trojans have scored a touchdown just four times in 11 attempts inside the red zone.  They have, however, converted 9-of-22 fourth down plays, which is 11th-best in the nation.  Defensively, Lorenzano Blakeney and Jeremy Walton lead the unit with 32 and 25 tackles, respectively.  Walton also has four of the team's seven sacks.    

DO IT AGAIN, DO IT AGAIN: In each of the last two weeks, the Saints have had the game-winning score come on special teams' plays.  Two weeks ago, it was a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Sam Tumilty in a 19-14 win over Siena Heights University (Mich.).  Last week, it was a 37-yard return of a blocked punt by Logan Johnson in a 28-21 victory against Missouri Baptist.  Both individuals were recognized as the MSFA Midwest League Special Teams Player of the Week for their feats with Johnson garnering NAIA national honors, as well.

THREE-FOR-THREE: Nick Mabutas has authored interceptions in each of his last three contests with two of them coming in clutch fourth-quarter situations.  His interception on Saturday was one of three recorded in the game for USF defenders.  Angel Mata and Jalen Cooper had the other two.

LUCKY SEVENS: The Saints scored seven points in each quarter against Missouri Baptist.  Up until Saturday, USF had not scored in the first quarter, but erased that blank with a 13-play, 55-yard drive to open the contest.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: Three different Saints are averaging at least 25.0 yards on their kickoff returns leading to the team's No. 11 placement in the NAIA in that category at 26.1 yards per return.  James Williams leads the way at 29.5 yards per return, followed by Tumilty at 25.9 and Keenan Hailey at 25.0.

ALSO ON THE LEADER BOARD: USF's 23 penalties are the 10th fewest in the NAIA this year.

SETTING THE TABLE: Each of USF's four touchdowns on Saturday were either scored on a long return or set up by one.  The first two were set up by kickoff returns, Williams' 38-yarder to open the game and Tumilty's 51-yarder after Missouri Baptist tied the game at seven-all.  Cooper's 38-yard interception return in the third quarter keyed the third touchdown, while Johnson accounted for the fourth one.

NICKEL PACKAGE: All five rushing touchdowns this season, including three on Saturday, have been scored by Sam Tumilty.  He also leads the team in rushing with 248 yards on 99 carries. 

PLENTY OF GUYS TO THROW TO: Six different Saint receivers have anywhere between four and seven receptions this year.  Topping the list is Liam Eldridge with his seven going for 69 yards.  Daniel Goetsch has the most yards receiving with 79 on five grabs.

DÉJÀ VU: The last time the Saints completed just three passes in a game also came against Missouri Baptist back on Nov. 2, 2019.  That day, USF was 3-for-8 for 112 yards.  On Saturday, the Saints were 3-for-15 for 19 yards with all three completions coming on the opening drive.

NOW THAT'S A BOOT: Brian Maday had the longest punt of the season for him on Saturday with his 52-yarder in the third quarter.

STILL PERFECT: The Saints are 9-for-9 on PATs this fall.

ALSO SOLID: St. Francis has converted seven of its 13 fourth-down plays this year.

STOP RIGHT THERE: Despite reaching St. Francis territory 14 times in the last two weeks, opposing offenses have come up with points just five times.

OTHER NUMBERS: USF's 154 yards of total offense on Saturday were the team's lowest figure in three years dating back to April 10 of 2021 when it produced just 105 yards against Saint Xavier … Both teams had 65 plays on Saturday with Missouri Baptist producing 295 yards to USF's 154 … Speaking of lopsided numbers, the opposition has thrown 11 touchdown passes to USF's two … The Saints have been outscored in every quarter but the third this year, where they hold a 23-17 scoring edge.

FOR THE RECORD: The Saints are 160-224 all time, 131-166 in day games and 83-100 at home.