ADRIAN, Mich. -- While the Siena Heights offense earned more total yards than Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), SHU was unable to convert that yardage to touchdowns as the Saints fell to the Tigers, 20-11, in a Mid-States Football Association crossover contest, on Saturday.
Starting the scoring was ONU (3-0) when quarterback Jordan Lawton connected with Rashaan Gaymon with 4:10 remaining on the clock to go up 6-0 over the Saints. However, the Saints answered by blocking the Tigers' extra point attempt, which was returned by Zachary Flack for the Saints to make the score 6-2. The scoring slowed down until the second half when Brady Tanguay cut down the ONU lead to 6-5 with a 30-yard field goal for Siena Heights.
Olivet Nazarene responded with 2:10 left in the second quarter, going up 13-5 as Alika Kahaulelio caught a 13-yard pass from Lawton and Josh Anderson made the extra point attempt. With 13 seconds left, SHU Deontae' Rush brought in a three-yard pass from Lucas Barner Jr. to put the Saints within two, 13-11. Siena Heights went for the two-point conversion, but was unsuccessful. The halftime score held with ONU leading the Saints 13-11.
Siena Heights (0-2) shut down the Tigers' offense at the three-yard line with less than one minute remaining in the third quarter. The SHU defense was able to keep Olivet Nazarene out of the endzone until 6:10 left in the game and Erik Anderson cleared the SHU defense to earn six points. Anderson sent one through the uprights to make it 20-11, which would hold thorugh the end of the contest.
Barner Jr. threw for 177 yards for the Saints in 28 completions. Rush brought in 10 catches for 63 yards while fellow Saint Adam Glanders snatched six for 59 yards. The Tigers' quarterback, Lawton, threw for 149 yards in 14 completions. His main receivers included Rashaan Gaymon with five catches for 93 yards and Ryan Stoves with 3 catches for 24 yards. Running the ball for the Saints was D'aries Davis, earning 101 yards in 24 carries to average 5.3 yards per carry. The main rusher for ONU was Erik Anderson, running a total of 78 yards in 24 carries.
Defensively, Siena Heights was led by Nick Stalworth, earning 12 total tackles, while Logan Smith took down 10 Tigers. Cohen Canter and Izayah Newsom each earned six tackles and a sack, Newsom also blocking the Tigers' PAT. Caleb Coe made 10 stops for ONU as four different Tigers earned a sack.
Siena Heights will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 16, as they head on the road to the first time this season. SHU will take on Robert Morris (Ill.) in a 3 p.m. EST non-conference contest.
