ADRIAN, Mich. -- Of the three Siena Heights football scores in the 17-3 victory over Olivet Nazarene on Saturday, all three of them we due to a solid Saints' defense led by Nyshaun Marks and Malik Edwards taking the ball from the Mid-States Football Association crossover opponent.
Adding to a five solo tackles and an assisted tackle on the day, Marks forced a fumble and made a 30-yard interception return for Siena Heights. The interception made way for SHU quarterback Lucas Barner Jr. to connect with Curtis Smith Jr. for the first Saints' touchdown of the afternoon--10:46 on the clock in the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, the Siena Heights' defense came up big when Edwards sacked ONU quarterback Jordan Lawton on the fourth down attempt to give SHU the ball. SHU went on to score a field goal with 13:33 on the clock in the second quarter when Brock Quinlan sent the ball through the uprights for a 28-yard field goal.
Again at the end of the third quarter, Da'vonte Price made an interception for the Saints. With 13:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, Austin Krider brought in a pass from Barner to put SHU up 17-0. The following play the Tigers made their sole points of the day when Nick Paquet scored a 33-yard field goal with 9:02 left in the game.
Siena Heights quarterback Barner went 20-for-32 while throwing one interception. He totaled 201 yards and threw both of SHU's touchdowns, throwing for more than Olivet Nazarene's total offense yards. Barner ran for 24 yards and avoided all ONU sack-attempts.
In the air, Krider led the Saints with 62 yards in five receptions including a SHU touchdown. Smith earned 57 yards in three completions and a Saints' touchdown.
With 16 carries, Dont'e Fox led SHU in 72 net yards averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Mitch Meger ran for 29 of the Saints' 133 total rushing yards.
For the Saints, Edwards finished with six total tackles, three solo and three assisted tackles. He sacked the ONU quarterback three times for a loss of 19 total yards, compiling 3.5 tackles for loss for 22 yards. Edwards also added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Defensively, Tyaire Bragg and Izayah Newsom each earned a fumble recovery while Keontae Appling tacked on an interception for SHU. Da'vonte Price and Raymond Williams Jr. each added on five tackles.
Jordan Lawton was the Tigers' (3-5) quarterback, throwing 13-for-31 and three interceptions. He threw a total of 112 yards and ran for 12.
Leading ONU was wide receiver Ryan Stoves with 52 yards in three catches. With five catches and 36 yards was Erik Anderson.
On the ground, Anderson led with 21 yards for the Tigers. Keandre Murph also went 16 yards in five carries for ONU.
Caleb Coe was the top-ONU defender with 14 total stops, seven solo and seven assisted. With eight tackles a piece was Lucas Hughes and Palmer Ponstein. Jeremy Wadyka made a 39-yards interception return before being brought down by SHU quarterback Barner, less than 20 yards from the endzone.
The Saints improved their overall record to 4-4 while remaining 2-3 in Mid-States Football Association Mideast League action. Siena Heights will be back in action when they travel to Saint Ambrose (Iowa) for a 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST) MSFA crossover contest on Saturday, Oct. 29.
