GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, November 15 • 12 pm CT
Ward Field
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Series History
Overall: St. Francis leads 21-11.
First: at USF 37, Olivet Nazarene 16 (10/18/86)
Last: at USF 38, Olivet Nazarene 13 (11/9/24)
Streak: USF won the last game in the series.

The Two Coaches
USF: Joe Curry
Alma Mater: USF 2001
Career: 74-69 (14th year)
at USF: 74-69 (14th year)

ONU: Avante Mitchell
Alma Mater: Northwood University 2019
Career: 25-37 (7th year)
At ONU: 11-8 (2nd year)

TOP STORYLINES
• The longest-running series for the Saints among any single opponent continues on Saturday with their 33rd meeting against Olivet Nazarene University.  The Saints hold a 21-11 lead in a series that started in USF's first year of the program (1986) before pausing for seven seasons (1992-98) and then restarting in 1999.    

• Based on the Olivet Nazarene depth chart, junior quarterback Kaleb Garner is expected to get his first start as a Tiger.
 
• Carl Bew has returned the three longest kickoffs in school history this season with his 97-yarder last week resulting in his third return for points.   
 
• Nathen Choute has recorded an interception in each of his last three games, giving the Saints 14 on the season, which ranks eighth in the nation.
 
• Adrian Guerrero is looking to complete a perfect season on PATs.  He has delivered all 31 times he has been called upon this season.


GAME NOTES

THE HEAD COACHES
Joe Curry (St. Francis) is in his 14th season as the Saints' head coach, which makes him the longest-serving coach in school history.  He is also the winningest coach in the history of the program with 74 victories and second in winning percentage (.517, 74-69).  Program founder Gordie Gillespie maintains the top spot in winning percentage at .593.

Avante Mitchell (Olivet Nazarene) is in his second season at the helm of the Tigers' program, having gone 11-8.  Prior to ONU, he served as the head coach at Lawrence Technological University (Mich.) for a run of five seasons. 

ABOUT OLIVET NAZARENE
After ranking as high as No. 19 in the Week 6 NAIA Coaches' Poll, the Tigers – among others receiving votes in the latest poll – have come up on the short end in each of their last three contests to sit at 5-4 heading into the final week of the season.  Despite the run of setbacks, ONU has been in every contest, with all four of its losses coming by eight points or less, including a 28-27 setback to current No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan University.  Added to the tough luck was the loss of starting quarterback Christian Dhue-Reid in the Week 8 matchup with University of Saint Franci (Ind.).  Up to that point, Dhue-Reid had compiled a strong season, completing 61.2 percent of his passes (126-of-206) for 2,070 yards with 22 touchdowns against just two interceptions.  Senior Jack Miller and junior Kaleb Garner have seen action in a majority of games with the latter expected to get the call on Saturday.  Garner has completed 21 of his 36 pass attempts (58.3 pct.) over eight games for 197 yards with three touchdowns against two interceptions, including going 12-for-19 for 124 yards with two touchdowns last week vs. Saint Xavier University.  He has also rushed 31 times for 146 yards.  Combined, the trio of quarterbacks have led the Tigers to the seventh-best passing attack in the nation (308.2 ypg) with their 30 touchdown passes ranking sixth.  They also average 15.8 yards per completion, which is a Top 10 mark, as well.  On the ground, no less than six players have gotten the call to carry the ball at least 28 times with three of those individuals scoring at least four touchdowns.  One of those is junior Aaron Bennett, the leading rusher at 401 yards on 86 carries.  Through the air, the Tigers also have plenty of weapons with four different receivers having secured at least 22 catches.  Topping the list is senior tight end Blake Lamb with his 38 catches, 687 yards and seven touchdowns.  As a unit, ONU ranks 11th in the nation in total yards per game (467.0) and 20th in scoring (38.4 ppg).  The Tigers could be without their top defensive player in senior linebacker John Harman, as well.  He is not listed on the team's two-deep for this week after leading the team in tackles (65) and tackles for loss (11.5).  That will put more of the burden on sophomore linebacker Kennarius Chandler along with the rest of the defensive unit.  Chandler ranks third on the team in tackles (45) and second in tackles for loss (eight).  On special teams, junior Gavin Lentz handles punt detail (39.0 avg.) with Josiah Johnson and Gabe Caison splitting time as the placekicker.  Christian Warren is the headliner on kickoff returns (20.6 ypr) with junior Japheth Lilo the same on punt returns (4.0).              

ABOUT THE SERIES
Olivet Nazarene represents the No. 1 foe in terms of number of contests in the history of the USF program with the two teams having met 32 previous times.  The Saints have come out on top in nearly two-thirds of the meetings (21-11).  The first matchup came in USF's first season.  The two teams met for six straight years before the series went on pause from 1992 through 1998.  They have met every year since 1999.  
  
OFF TO THE RACES YET AGAIN
USF kick return man Carl Bew continues to amaze.  He became the first Saint in school history to return three kickoffs for a touchdown in a single season with his 97-yarder last week against University of Saint Francis (Ind.).  It also resulted in his third MSFA Midwest League Special Teams Player of the Week honor this fall.  Bew is one of five players in the NAIA this year to return at least three kickoffs for scores and is averaging 29.6 yards per return on the season.   

A BEW-TIFUL DAY
Bew's 141 return yards were just part of the story last week against Saint Francis (Ind.).  The sophomore also had one other touchdown, carried the ball 14 times for 83 yards and completed two of his five pass attempts for 42 yards.  For the season, Bew is averaging 120.3 all-purpose yards per game.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
With Bew's two scores and one from Jake Friddle last week, the pair is now tied for the team lead in touchdowns with six each.  Friddle, however, holds a two-point lead in total scoring over Bew, 40-38, with two PATs to Bew's one.  Friddle's 40 total points are second on the club.

THREE-FOR-THREE
With his interception on Saturday, sophomore nickel back Nathen Choute has now intercepted passes in each of his last three contests to bring him to his total of three for the year.  That has helped the Saints maintain their Top 10 billing in the nation in that category with their 14 picks, ranking them eighth-best.  Michael Hackman leads the club with five picks.

LOOKING TO COMPLETE THE SEASON PERFECT
Adding three more PATs to his count from last week, sophomore kicker Adrian Guerrero has made all 31 of his attempts during the 2025 campaign.  Adding another eight straight from last year, he has been perfect on each of his last 39 attempts.  The 31 PATs along with his eight field goals in 11 attempts give him a team-best 55 points on the season.

HATS OFF TO HANSEN
Senior linebacker Karsen Hansen recorded his fourth game of ten-plus tackles this season last Saturday when he totaled a team-high 14 stops.  That was one shy of his career-best effort.  For the season, Hansen leads the club in total tackles (83), tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (four).

CAREER DAYS
Linebackers Rob Baranowski and Mike Carver also had big games defensively last week.  Baranowski was credited with 12 tackles and Carver nine, both of which were personal-best marks.

NUMBING NUMBERS
Despite the Saints' 3-6 record, they have outscored and outgained their opponents on the season.  In the scoring department, USF has held a 271-255 edge, while in total offense, it holds a 3,442-3,421 edge.  USF has also outgained the opposition on the ground 1,498-1,178.

A TOP TEN MARK
USF ranks eighth in the NAIA on fourth-down plays, having converted at a 70 percent clip (14-of-20).

ONE LAST RIDE
Eighteen Saints will be making their final appearance wearing the Brown & Gold on Saturday.  Those expected to suit up include Matthew Alston, Ryan Banas, Marcello Bernardi, William Brandau, Mike Carver, Gavin Day, Jake Friddle, Karsen Hansen, Brandon Harry, Owen McGuire, Anthony Niecikowski, Athanasius Nwalozie and Allan Richards.  Those out with season-ending injuries are Nick Franciskovich, Rylan Heersink, Nick Mabutas, Curtis Reeves and Trey Sayers. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Saints are expected to have the same schedule as one year ago with the exception of new conference member St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (Ind.) replacing Siena Heights University (Mich.) on the schedule.

FOUR SCORE AND 40 YEARS AGO
This is the 40th season of football at St. Francis with the inaugural campaign coming in 1986.  The Saints went 6-4 that first year.  

FOR THE RECORD
The Saints are 182-237 all time, 153-178 in day games and 87-130 on the road.