JOLIET, Ill. --- NAIA No. 13-ranked University of St. Francis and No. 16 Saint Xavier University went toe-to-toe with each other in another classic Mid-States Football Association Midwest League matchup on Saturday afternoon at Joliet Memorial Stadium before the latter scored in overtime and sealed the 28-21 victory with an interception. 

The contest was the ninth one in the last 11 meetings and the 13th one overall between the two teams decided by seven points or less in the 26-year history.  It also was the second matchup ending in overtime in the past three years with both games coming at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

The loss snapped a season-opening, four-game winning streak for the Fighting Saints (4-1, 0-1 MSFA) as well as a string of six straight home victories dating back to last year.

Each team had three chances to score in the opening half and came away with touchdowns on two of their drives.  After Saint Xavier missed on a 39-yard field goal attempt to begin the game, the Saints put together their longest drive of the season, going 78 yards in 11 plays with the first of two Sam Tumilty touchdowns concluding the series.

USF's missed opportunity came on its third drive after Saint Xavier had knotted the score at seven-all when the Saints fumbled inside the SXU ten-yard line.  They would, however, recover quickly with Tumilty's second two-yard touchdown run on their next offensive series to close out a 10-play, 53-yard drive with just under two minutes remaining in the half.

Saint Xavier, as it had all afternoon long, answered each of USF's scores with the second touchdown coming on a quick 90-second, 76-yard drive that concluded on a 17-yard Justin Pringle reception with ten seconds remaining before halftime.  On both that drive and the Cougars' previous touchdown, SXU converted on all three of its third-down plays after coming into the contest doing so at less than a 23 percent clip on the season.

USF, which allowed opponents to convert at just a 20-percent rate over its first four games and never more than four times in any one contest, yielded seven successes on 16 attempts Saturday, not to mention both of Saint Xavier's fourth-down plays on its game-tying score in the fourth quarter.

The second half proved to be a defensive battle - each team punted four times - with neither team giving in on their first three series before Joey Tumilty finally broke free for a 73-yard reception and run with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter to put the Saints up 21-14.

Saint Xavier answered yet again with a methodical 14-play, 58-yard drive culminating with Amari Venerable's one-yard plunge into the end zone on fourth down with 11:22 remaining in the contest.

Both teams punted on their next series before the Saints attempted to run out the clock with a game-ending drive.  Starting at their own 26-yard line, the Saints converted twice on third down to get as close as the Saint Xavier 32-yard line before a fourth-and-three pass play fell incomplete to end the drive with 27 seconds remaining in regulation.

Saint Xavier quarterback Stuart Ross then completed his third touchdown pass of the game, finding Brandt Hixson in the middle of the end zone on the Cougars' first play in overtime.  USF looked to do the same on its initial play in the extra session only to be intercepted by Antonio Orozco to end the game. 

Like the score itself, both teams' main statistics were even with the Saints gaining a slight 326-324 advantage in total offense.  USF did commit the two turnovers, while Saint Xavier presented a clean sheet.

Sam and Joey Tumilty both had 100-yard performances on the day.  Joey Tumilty turned in a season-high 135 yards on five catches, while Sam Tumilty notched his second 100-yard rushing game with his 101 yards on 21 carries.  Sam also completed 13 of his 20 pass attempts for 173 yards.

Ross finished his day throwing for 157 yards on 15-of-24 efficiency with each of his touchdown passes going to three different receivers.  Kyle Quinn led the way with four grabs for 78 yards, including the Cougars' first score of 27 yards. 

Venerable ran for another 82 yards on his 19 carries.

Defensively, the Saints produced three double-figure tacklers in Kemon Reese (13 stops), Scott Tumilty (10) and Karsen Hansen (10).  Pat Strocchia also had a pair of sacks.

Notes: USF had a string of scoring in seven straight quarters before being stopped in the fourth quarter on Saturday … Saint Xavier's 28 points were two more than the Saints had allowed through its first four games combined … SXU's 14-point second quarter marked the first time an opponent had scored a touchdown in the opening half this season against the St. Francis defense … USF's defense went without an interception for the first time since Week 3 of the 2022 campaign … The loss snapped St. Francis' longest winning streak to open a season in school history … With the three Tumilty brother touchdowns, the family has celebrated a score in 24 straight Saint games now … With Sam Tumilty's two scores, the junior quarterback has moved into a tie for first place on USF's career touchdown list with Brandon Ruffin (2016-19).  Both players now have 38 scores … Brian Maday had his best day punting in 2023 with his 41.6-yard average and landing three of his five attempts inside the 20-yard line … The Saints continue MSFA Midwest League play next Saturday night (7 pm) when they travel to Arlington Heights to face Robert Morris University.            

Links to live coverage can be found at gofightingsaints.com/coverage. You can also keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on Twitter @USFSaints.