CHICAGO --- A string of 24 unanswered points by NAIA No. 12-ranked Saint Xavier University snapped University of St. Francis' school-record seven-game winning streak and denied the No. 19-ranked Fighting Saints both their first outright Mid-States Football Association Midwest League title and a postseason bid in a 24-21 season-ending contest on Saturday afternoon.

The day got off to a promising start when Angel Mata registered USF's 18th interception of the season on Saint Xavier's first possession.  Four plays later, the Saints (7-3, 6-1 MSFA) had a 7-0 lead when Sam Tumilty and James Williams hooked up on a 20-yard scoring strike.  It was both the first collegiate reception and touchdown for the latter.

Key third-down conversions would be the story of the day for Saint Xavier (9-2, 7-0) with the first two coming on the Cougars' next possession – receptions of 31 and 34 yards – on third and six-plus yards.  The series of 10 plays and 86 yards would culminate on Stuart Ross' one-yard run to knot the score at seven-all.

Looking to respond quickly, the Saints got as far as the Saint Xavier 18-yard line early in the second quarter before an interception in the end zone by Kevin Coutryman – his sixth of the season – derailed USF's second offensive series of the game.

The next six possessions for the Saints all resulted in three-and-out series, while, at the same time, Saint Xavier was building its 24-7 advantage with three scores.  Fifty yards in penalties by USF on the second of their offensive series set up Saint Xavier in excellent field position for the go-ahead score late in the second quarter.  The Cougars would need just one play from 27 yards out on a halfback pass to take a 14-7 lead into the break.

St. Francis then failed to capitalize on a Scott Tumilty fumble recovery on Saint Xavier's first possession of the second half.  Taking over at the SXU 38-yard line, the Saints could only muster two yards in four plays before turning the ball over on downs.

Saint Xavier, winners of nine straight games, responded with the third of its four big third-down plays just three plays later when Ross (13-of-20, 192 yards, 1 TD, 1 int.) connected with Justin Pringle (8 recp., 133 yards) on a 54-yard scoring strike. 

The Cougars picked up another three points – 28-yard field goal – after the Saints turned the ball over on a fumble on their next possession deep in their own territory, extending the home team's lead to 24-7.

That deficit finally broke USF's offensive funk, triggering touchdown marches of 83 and 80 yards.  Liam Eldridge (7 recp., 91 yards) recorded the first score with his 20-yard reception with the second touchdown coming on a Sam Tumilty two-yard run to cap off a 15-play, 7:34 drive.  The latter touchdown made it a one-score game with 5:45 still to play in the contest.

An illegal block and a false start penalty to begin Saint Xavier's next drive pinned the Cougars back to their own nine-yard line.  Yet another clutch third-down play of 19 yards on third-and 16, however, took valuable time off the clock and eventually turned the field on the Saints when SXU pinned USF back to its own eight-yard line four plays later and leaving it just 2 minutes, 25 seconds to drive into scoring range.

The Saints would collect two first downs and get the ball out to their own 30-yard line before the final drive of their season fizzled.

USF would finish with 265 yards of total offense, 185 of which would come on its final three series of the game.  Saint Xavier countered with 317 yards.

Sam Tumilty recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season, finishing with 101 yards on his 25 carries.  He also completed 13 of his 24 pass attempts for another 137 yards. 

USF's defense was led by Jalen Cooper with ten tackles, including two for loss.  Scott Tumilty and Michael R. Johnson provided another eight tackles each.

Notes: USF's seven victories are its most in a single season since 2015 when that team went 8-3 … Mata's seventh interception of the campaign enabled him to finish in a six-way tie for first place in the NAIA in that department during the regular season.  It also moved him into a tie for second place among St. Francis single-season leaders and tied for third place in career picks with 13 … The interception also enabled the Saints to close out the year with picks in all but the first game of the season and finish with 18 overall, tying the team for the sixth spot in the nation … Sam Tumilty's 16th touchdown tied him for third most in the NAIA during the regular season, while his 96 total points placed him in a tie for seventh … Scott Tumilty's 49 kickoff return yards on Saturday moved him all the way from the No. 10 spot to No. 6 amongst single-season leaders with 557 total yards … Eldridge's seven receptions were the most by a Saint in a game this year.  His touchdown was the first of the season for him … Williams had his biggest offensive day in his first year as a Saint, finishing with 38 yards on just six plays with five carries for 18 yards and the 20-yard touchdown reception … USF's defense held Saint Xavier to just 98 yards rushing, marking the seventh time this season that an opposing offense was limited to under 100 yards.  For the season, the St. Francis defense allowed only 99.1 yards per game on the ground … Tumilty's interception in the second quarter was just his second in the last six games … Saturday marked the first time since Week 2 that the Saints did not have a positive takeaway/giveaway ratio, finishing even at 2-2 … The Saints open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 hosting Waldorf University.

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