UPLAND, Ind. --- Sam Tumilty threw for a career-high 260 yards in his return to the University of St. Francis football team's lineup and its defense maintained its top billing in the nation in the NAIA No. 14-ranked Fighting Saints 24-7 win over Taylor University on Saturday afternoon.  The Mid-States Football Association crossover victory tied the school record of four wins to open a season.

After missing the first start of his collegiate career last week to snap a 21-game streak, Tumilty began Saturday's game by going a perfect 5-for-5 passing for 54 yards on USF's opening 10-play, 69-yard scoring drive, with his 13-yard scoring strike to his younger brother Joey Tumilty capping the series.  Sam Tumilty would finish the afternoon with 15 completions in 29 attempts for the 260 yards and one touchdown.  He totaled another 31 yards on seven carries.

St. Francis would go on to score in every quarter with touchdowns on fumble recoveries from both Logan Johnson in the second quarter and Joey Tumilty in the fourth quarter, while Brian Maday contributed a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter.

The Saints' defense kept its lock on the No. 1 spot in scoring defense by allowing just one touchdown in the third quarter.  It came just one series after defensive coordinator Thomas Miller's unit had shutout Taylor's offense on a first-and-goal series that started at the five-yard line and included back-to-back stops at the one.

Taylor, however, got the ball right back at USF's five-yard line following a bobbled punt snap on St. Francis' next possession and went into the end zone two plays later.  The touchdown was just the third of the season allowed by the Saints and the first points given up in the third quarter in the 2023 campaign.

St. Francis has now allowed just 6.5 points per contest – 26 points total – through its first four games, one point better than Grand View University (Iowa).

That score would be offset by Johnson's second career touchdown.  An errant shotgun snap from center that was kicked deep into Taylor territory and scooped to Johnson at the goal line by Nick Mabutas before it went out of bounds created the chaotic play that extended USF's lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter.

That would prove to be more than enough points for the Saints after USF's shutdown defense held Taylor to just 34 yards on 23 offensive plays in the opening 30 minutes, not to mention a 0-for-5 mark on third-down plays and 4-of-6 three-and-out series.

Taylor, a Top 10-ranked offensive rushing unit, would manage 83 yards in the third quarter and 86 yards in the fourth to finish with 203 total yards, or 130.0 yards below its season average.  The Trojans only picked up 46 yards on their 11 completions in 19 attempts.  St. Francis, on the other side, totaled 379 yards.

Mabutas' scoop was not his only defensive highlight.  The sophomore safety led the team with a season-high ten tackles.

Graduate student cornerback Jalen Cooper also put on a show.  He doubled up on his first interception of the season last week with two more on back-to-back series in the fourth quarter Saturday. 

Joey Tumilty, who finished with season-high numbers for catches (seven) and receiving yards (99), was credited with his second touchdown after recovering his brother Sam's fumble in the end zone at the end of an 18-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Maday's 32-yard field goal closed out an eight-play, 57-yard drive in response to Taylor's only touchdown just one series earlier.

Gavin Day led USF in rushing with 42 yards, 35 of which came on USF's final touchdown of the afternoon. 

Notes: USF's four-game season-opening victory streak was first set by the 2008 squad, which finished 7-4 … Johnson's touchdown was the second in as many seasons.  He also had a 32-yard punt return for a touchdown against Missouri Baptist last year … Joey Tumilty's first score on Saturday provided the Saints with a touchdown by a member of the Tumilty family for the 22nd consecutive game … With his 22 yards on two kickoff returns Saturday, Scott Tumilty moved into the No. 2 position for career kick return yards with 1,552 … St. Francis' defense limited Taylor to just two third-down conversions in 13 attempts and 3-of-15 including fourth-down plays on Saturday.  The Trojans were also just 1-for-4 in red-zone chances compared to 3-for-4 for USF … For the season, the Saints are now 15-of-17 in the red zone with 13 touchdowns … The St. Francis defense was held without a sack for the first time in 2023 on Saturday, but extended its interception streak to 13 games dating back to last year … With its two touchdowns in the opening half on Saturday, USF has now outscored its opponents 73-6 in the opening 30 minutes … The victory snapped a three-game losing streak against Taylor and gave the Saints a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series … St. Francis faces its only ranked foe on the regular-season schedule in longtime nemesis and NAIA No. 18-ranked Saint Xavier next Saturday at Joliet Memorial Stadium.  The 1 pm MSFA season opener will also serve as Homecoming for USF.    

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