JOLIET, Ill. --- Sam Tumilty ran for four touchdowns, Joey Tumilty authored another two and three other members of the University of St. Francis football team reached the end zone, as well, as the NAIA No. 23-ranked Fighting Saints returned to Joliet Memorial Stadium in a big way with a 63-12 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League victory over Judson University on Saturday afternoon.

Playing at home for the first time in a month, head coach Joe Curry's club scored on each of its first seven possessions and produced a season-high 571 yards of offense in improving to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.  Only two other St. Francis teams have started that well, the 2011 squad that won seven of its first eight games and the 1987 club that opened at 8-1 in just the program's second season.

Sam Tumilty was Mr. Efficient both through the air and on the ground.  In just 30 minutes of play, he completed 15 of his 18 passes, including 11 of his first 12, for 255 yards and two touchdowns, while delivering four rushing touchdowns on just seven carries that netted 40 yards.

The four-score day was the fourth of Tumilty's career.  His end-zone runs went for four yards twice, one yard and ten yards, while his touchdown passes hit for 55 and 16 yards.

Joey Tumilty was on the receiving end of one of the scoring strikes.  The 55-yarder came midway through the second quarter and was part of a five-catch, 101-yard afternoon for the sophomore receiver.  He also opened the scoring with a 12-yard run on the Saints' fifth play from scrimmage and finished the day with 36 yards on only three carries.

Ryan Little was right behind Joey Tumilty with a career-high 67 yards on four catches.  His 16-yard touchdown reception with under one minute to play in the opening half sent the Saints into the locker room with a 49-6 advantage.

The second half saw plenty of Saints get in on the action, including freshman quarterback Nathan Maul and rookie receiver Kevin Holland, each of whom scored their first collegiate touchdowns.  Maul ran one in from four yards out on a drive early in the fourth quarter before recording his first touchdown pass on the next series, a 17-yard play to Holland.

Maul finished the day completing four of his nine attempts for 48 yards and rushing for another 37 yards on six carries, including a 24-yarder.

Nine different Saints carried the ball on the afternoon, including a pair for the first time.  Tumilty and Maul combined to find eight different receivers on the day with another two also making their first collegiate catches.  Holland had two grabs for 38 yards.

Defensively, 19 different players recorded a stat, highlighted by Nick Mabutas' six tackles, one fumble recovery and his second interception in as many weeks.  Michael Torres and Kevin Frazier matched Mabutas with a team-high six tackles, while Allan Richards had 1.5 sacks among his three tackles.

Judson (1-6, 0-2) was led by quarterback Jalen Webb-Starkey, who ran for 107 yards and one score on 14 carries, while throwing for another 190 yards.  He completed 19 of his 37 passes and threw one interception offset by one touchdown.

As a team, the Eagles totaled 300 yards on the day.

Notes: Besides his quartet of four-touchdown games, Tumilty also had a five-score game, which tied a school record, his freshman year … It was also the fifth time in seven games this season where he has scored twice and the sixth time in his career that he has scored at least two touchdowns and threw for two or more … Saturday marked the third time this season that Tumilty threw at least 17 passes with three or fewer incompletions … Joey Tumilty's 101-yard receiving game was the third time this season and the sixth time in his brief two-year career that he has hit the century mark … Maul, Holland and Luis Torres (2 PATs) became the 14th, 15th and 16th different Saints to score this season … Saturday marked the second time this season that the Saints opened a game by scoring in no less than each of their first seven possessions.  They scored eight straight times to begin the Waldorf contest in the season opener … USF's 36 first downs were a season high by a wide margin.  The previous best was 27 versus Concordia University (Mich.) in Week 3.  For the season, St. Francis has posted at least 24 first downs in five of its seven games … The Saints were a perfect 8-for-8 inside the red zone with all eight scores being touchdowns … Four of USF's nine touchdowns came on five plays or less with all nine requiring no more than seven plays … By halftime, St. Francis had already put up 405 of its 571 total yards of offense.

Up Next
The Saints play their last road game of the regular season next Saturday (Nov. 2) when they square off against the only other remaining unbeaten in the MSFA Midwest League in University of Saint Francis (Ind.) (6-2, 2-0).  Kickoff is set for noon Central time. 

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.