JOLIET, Ill. --- Halloween came three days early for the University of St. Francis football team as the Fighting Saints were haunted by a season-high six turnovers on Saturday in a 35-7 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League contest setback to Olivet Nazarene University on Senior Day at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

The net result was 21 points off USF miscues, including one directly on a 75-yard fumble return, not to mention another seven points on a 45-yard punt return for a score.  Olivet Nazarene's only real scoring drive came on the game's first possession when the Tigers marched 75 yards on 16 plays and ate up nearly nine minutes of the clock.

ONU's other two scoring drives were short ones covering one play and 33 yards and 2 plays and 22 yards following a St. Francis interception and fumble.  For the day, Olivet Nazarene (5-3, 2-1 MSFA) picked off four Saint passes and recovered two fumbles.

USF (6-3, 2-3) had a pair of opportunities to tie the game with two long drives among its first three possessions.  The Saints got as close as the Olivet Nazarene 11-yard line the first time before an interception in the end zone on a fourth-and-one play halted that series. 

After a three-and-out-series by ONU, St. Francis then went 60 yards down to the Olivet two-yard line before a penalty negated a touchdown.  USF was sacked on the next play followed by the 75-yard fumble return for the touchdown.

Things would not get any better on the Saints' next drive, which was stopped three plays in by a second interception and seven more Tiger points one play later.  The end result was a swing of a seven-point deficit that turned into a 21-point uphill climb in just under two minutes heading into the break.

Looking to rebound in the second half with possession at the start for St. Francis, ONU's John Harman forced his second fumble of the day on the first play and Olivet Nazarene was back in the end zone two plays and under one minute later for a commanding 28-0 advantage.

ONU's final score came on Evan Leake's fourth special teams touchdown of the year, the 45-yard punt return midway through the fourth quarter.

USF avoided the shutout shortly thereafter when Carl Bew and Dezzion Jordan connected on the longest St. Francis pass play of the year (81 yards) for a touchdown.  Up until that point, the Saints had managed just 76 passing yards on seven receptions in 19 attempts.

It also enabled head coach Joe Curry's club to outgain Olivet Nazarene 292-264.  Half of that yardage, however, came on just two of USF's 55 plays on the day with Bew's 65-yard run early in the second quarter being the other big play.  The Saints managed just nine first downs on the afternoon.

Bew finished the afternoon rushing for 74 yards on 16 carries and was sacked six times for 31 yards in losses.  He was able to complete seven of his 19 pass attempts for 156 yards. 

Keenan Hailey provided 55 ground yards in 12 rushing attempts, while Jordan totaled 101 yards on three receptions.

Defensively, the Saints received 11 tackles each from Kemon Reese and Karsen Hansen.

For Olivet Nazarene, Cameron Crouch only threw 11 passes with six being completed for 60 yards, including two for touchdowns.  Both scores went to Titus Maunakee, whose only receptions (33, 2 yards) were for touchdowns.    

Arthur Walker was one of nine Tiger ballcarriers on the day and led the way with 44 yards in 13 attempts, including one for a score.

Notes: The contest marked the first time this year that the Saints trailed at halftime and failed to score in the opening 45 minutes … Olivet Nazarene became the first team to shut down the Tumilty family, stopping the brothers' 27-game streak of scoring a St. Francis touchdown … Jordan had his second straight 100-yard receiving day and the third one of his career … Olivet Nazarene was only 3-of-14 on third-down plays, but a perfect 5-for-5 on fourth down, including twice on its opening-scoring drive … For the fifth time this season, USF's defense held the opposition under 300 yards of total offense … USF's 292 yards were its second-lowest total of the year … The Tigers came into the contest ranked ninth in the NAIA in interceptions with 14 and climbed up to a tie for the No. 2 spot by the end of the day with 18 … The USF program recognized its 13 senior members before the contest.  Those honored were Hailey, Michael R. Johnson, Josh Golden, McKai Vann, Sergio Garcia, Cameron Holman, Brian Maday, Jalen Cooper, Tavion Wells, Christian Owens, Peyton Boji, Daniel Goetsch and Logan Miller … The Saints have next Saturday off before taking on Judson University for the second time this season in a non-league contest on Nov. 11.   

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