JOLIET, Ill. --- The number seven turned out to be an unlucky one for the University of St. Francis football team on Senior Day as the Fighting Saints were dealt a 70-0 setback to Olivet Nazarene University in Mid-States Football Association Midwest League play on Saturday afternoon at Joliet Memorial Stadium.
USF (2-8, 1-3 MSFA) turned the ball over seven times on the day, which ONU (6-3, 3-1) cashed in for half of its points on the afternoon. The Saints also reached Olivet Nazarene territory seven times, yet could not come away with any points in suffering their second shutout of the season.
Eight of Olivet Nazarene's ten touchdowns on the day took five plays or less, including three that were one or two plays. Not included in that count was a 37-yard fumble return for a score by ONU linebacker John Harman that put the guests up 21-0 just nine minutes into the contest.
ONU's first offensive play of the game turned out to be a prelude of what was to come when Zayden Alviar-Costa took a short pass from Christian Dhue-Reid and turned it into a 55-yard touchdown. The reception was one of four on the day for Alviar-Costa, who finished with 114 yards.
Dhue-Reid was just as efficient, completing 13 of his 15 pass attempts for 296 yards with three touchdowns. He and two other Olivet Nazarene quarterbacks combined to throw for 338 yards to ten different receivers.
USF was able to slow ONU's rushing attack, which came into the game ranked 20th in the NAIA with its 204.5 average. The Tigers also had the nation's seventh-best runningback in yards per game (102.0) in Aaron Bennett. He was held to 39 yards on nine carries, while the offense as a whole produced only 148 yards on the ground with nine different players getting carries.
Nonetheless, ONU took what St. Francis gave it, starting five of its touchdown drives in USF territory, the majority of which came on the turnovers. Those drives covered 35, 41, 7, 25 and 32 yards.
USF's only real opportunity at scoring came late in the first half when the Saints drove to the ONU 21-yard line only to have the first of two interceptions end the threat. Despite having three more offensive plays than Olivet Nazarene on the day (66-63), St. Francis managed half as many yards (486-245).
ONU's relentless defense was a big reason for the Saints' struggles all afternoon long. Besides the seven turnovers, USF had 14 of its plays go for loss, including seven sacks. The Tigers came into the contest averaging nine tackles for loss per game.
St. Francis managed just 30 yards rushing on the day. Through the air,
Connor Engstrom was the most productive Saint with five catches for 90 yards.
Defensively,
Gavin Day led both teams with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.
Notes: Before the game, the Saints honored 11 senior members of its football program (
Matthew Alston,
Damian Banaszewski,
Grace Bardachowski,
Noah Barnes,
Marcello Bernardi,
Niko Frcek,
Adrian Guerrero,
Aaron Larkins,
Peyton Norton,
Antwain Perkins and
James Williams.Â
Up Next
The Saints wrap up the season meeting first-year MSFA member Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana next Saturday (Nov. 14). Kickoff is set for noon Central time.
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