ADRIAN, Mich. – Lucas Barner Jr. threw for 337 yards in the 24-22 loss to No. 5 Saint Francis (Ind.) in the Siena Heights football homecoming game, on Saturday, in Mid-States Football Association Mideast League action.

Barner went 20-for-40 in completions and threw two interceptions. The sophomore quarterback connected with two different receivers while throwing for all three of the Saints' touchdowns.

Receiving for 154 yards was Austin Krider in eight catches. He brought in two touchdowns for SHU, with a long of 58 yards. Also grabbing a touchdown was Deontae' Rush, going 116 yards for SHU in three different catches.

Siena Heights led 10-7 over Saint Francis at the end of the first quarter, Brock Quinlan made a field goal with 5:30 remaining. USF responded with a touchdown, only for the Saints to answer with a Barner to Krider connection with 0:23 remaining in the first.

The Cougars put up 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to go up 21-10 heading into halftime.

Rush scored the lone touchdown in the third quarter to close the gap to five points, 21-16, after a failed extra-point attempt.

The Saints went up 22-21 when Barner connected with Krider again for a 58 yard touchdown with 6:48 remaining in the game. SHU went for a two-point conversion, but could not convert after a fumble on the snap.

With two pass breakups, by Raymond Williams Jr. and E.J. Shaah, the Saints were able to hold USF to a field goal. The Cougars went up 24-22 with 2:26 left on the game clock.

Unable to generate a first down, the Saints would turn over the ball on the SHU 7 yard line with 1:25 remaining in the game. The Cougars would hold on to the two point lead for the Saints second loss of the season.

Defensively, Williams led the Saints with 14 total tackles, 6 solo and 8 assisted. He also forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and earned a pass breakup. Nate Yeloushan tallied 10 tackles for SHU, earning eight solo tackles and two assisted tackles. Also for the Saints, Cha' Quan love made five solo tackles, an assisted tackle, a pass break up and made an interception.

Siena Heights out-passed the Cougars, 337-322, but were unable to keep up with the USF running game. Dont'e Fox earned 14 yards in nine carries while D'aries Davis earned seven yards in five carries. Barner lost 25 yards for the Saints.

Saint Francis quarterback Nick Ferrer went 25-for-44 and threw one interception. Justin Green ran for 72 net yards for the Cougars, averaging 4.5 yards per carry while teammate Austin Harris carried for 60 yards.

USF receiver Seth Coate brought in five of Ferrer's tosses for 113 total yards and a touchdown. Montay McDowell earned two touchdowns for the Cougars while making four grabs for 76 yards.

On defense, Na'Shawn Lewis made both interceptions for the Cougars, taking one back 33 yards. Piercen Harnish made nine stops, five solo and four assisted, while Eric Dunten earned eight total tackles.

Next up, Siena Heights will travel to Taylor (Ind.) on Saturday, Oct. 8, for a MSFA Mideast League contest. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.