JOLIET, Ill. --- Marian University (Ind.) took a page from the University of St. Francis football team's recipe book for success on Saturday afternoon, scoring 24 unanswered points on four straight series in the first half to gain a 37-28 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League victory at Joliet Memorial Stadium.  The loss not only ruined the NAIA No. 24-ranked Fighting Saints' Senior Day, but also dashed their hopes for a share of the conference title and a potential bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series.

Coming into the contest, the Saints (7-3, 3-2 MSFA) had runs of no less than 23 straight points in six of their seven victories on the season.  They hoped to do the same on Saturday and started on the right foot, scoring on their first possession.  Daniel McLaurin sparked the opening drive with his 47-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and Sam Tumilty finished it off six plays later with a one-yard dash to the end zone.

Marian, playing for the same prizes as the Saints, responded in a big way.  Among others receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, the Knights (8-2, 4-1) scored on each of their four first-half possessions with three touchdowns and a field goal in building a 24-7 advantage with less than a minute to go in the opening half.

MU scored on lengthy drives of 70 yards (13 plays) and 58 yards (11) before a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff following the second touchdown made for a quick four-play, 29-yard scoring series.  The Knights would add a 34-yard field goal following another extended 12-play, 62-yard march with 43 seconds remaining in the half.

A 23-yard return by Gavin Day of a short kick and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Marian on the same play left the Saints with plenty of time and only 29 yards required to put points on the board before halftime.  They did just that four plays later on a six-yard Jason Hartsfield reception.

Like they did against Saint Xavier earlier in the year in a 36-29 overtime comeback win, the Saints used that late-touchdown momentum to score on back-to-back possessions and get right back in the contest at 24-21 early in the third quarter.  A Nick Mabutas interception created by a Matthew Perry tipped pass on Marian's first series after the break set up USF's third touchdown of the game. Tumilty did the honors on the first play following the pick with his 17-yard run.

The interception by Mabutas was one of two on the day for him.  He finished the season with a team-high five picks with all of them coming over the last five games.

The three-point deficit would last just 20 seconds, however, when the Knights' bell(e) cow in the form of Keagen La Belle continued his tormenting of the St. Francis defense.  After rushing for 141 yards on 25 carries in the opening half, La Belle broke five tackles on his way to an 81-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage to rebuild Marian's lead to 30-21. 

For the game, La Belle would author the second-best rushing day in Marian history with his 290 yards on 40 carries.  As a team, Marian rushed for 314 yards, or just 23 yards less than USF's total offensive production on the day (337 yards).  Marian finished with 389 total yards with its 75 passing yards on just six completions in 14 attempts added in.

The Saints had a pair of scoring opportunities on two of their next three offensive series, but an interception inside the red zone and a 38-yard missed field goal kept the deficit at nine points with 10:49 remaining in the game.

With the season on the line and at their own two-yard line with under seven minutes to play, the Saints put together their longest scoring drive of the year.  Going the 98 yards on just eight plays, including a pair of completions to McLaurin for 49 yards, the Saints used up less than three minutes of the clock, which stopped at 3:48 after Tumilty scored from ten yards out.

USF's defense responded with just its second three-and-out series and the Saints regained possession at their own 22-yard line with 2:37 remaining in the contest.  Three plays later, however, Marian registered its second interception of the game.  La Belle then clinched the Knights' victory two plays later with his fourth touchdown of the afternoon and the team's second touchdown off a St. Francis turnover.

Tumilty finished off his illustrious four-year career with his third straight 100-yard rushing game (112 yards, 22 carries) and three touchdowns.  Through the air, he was 16-for-28 for 132 yards with another score. 

McLaurin also had a big game on his final day as a Saint with 143 yards of total offense between his five carries for 72 yards, five catches for a team-high 55 yards and one kickoff return for 16 yards.

Defensively, Perry led the way with 13 tackles, followed by Trey Sayers with 11 and Allan Richards with nine.  Karsen Hansen added to his strong season with another 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack as part of a seven-stop day for him. 

Notes: Tumilty closed out his career rushing for 3,436 yards and 61 touchdowns, while throwing for another 5,729 yards and 45 scores.  He also scored 368 points.  In all, he set seven school single-season or career records, while also finishing fourth in both career passing yards and passing touchdowns.  His 2,171 yards passing this year are the fifth-best single-season mark … Scott Tumilty finished his career as the all-time leader in both kickoff return (1,844) and punt return yardage (883) … Both teams averaged an identical 5.4 yards per play on Saturday … Marian was a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth-down plays, converting twice on a pair of touchdown drives … Prior to the game, the Saints honored 14 seniors from the program: manager Riley Acuna, Hartsfield, Xavier Hopkins, Dezzion Jordan, Jared King, manager Karla Leal, McLaurin, manager Karina Serna De Lara, Ashtin Sorgea, Roby Thelusme, Luis Torres, Scott and Sam Tumilty and James Zilinger … USF's seven-win season was its third in as many years.

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