ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The Siena Heights football team found success in the running game as the Saints defeated Robert Morris (Ill.), 31-29, in a Mid-States Football Association crossover contest, on Saturday.
The Eagles started the scoring in the first quarter, Michael Berry finding the hands of Tristen Jeffri with 4:07 left on the clock. The Donnie Young PAT failed, leaving the score at 6-0 in the Eagles favor.
D'aries Davis helped the Saints (1-3) take the lead as he ran three yards for the first SHU touchdown of the day with 13:23 left in the second quarter. Brady Tanguay then sent the PAT home to make it 7-6 for SHU. Robert Morris answered as Jeffri again made a four yard reception in the end zone, this time from Kenyatte Allen with Young making the PAT for a 13-7 Eagle lead.
After halftime, Siena Heights took control of the game in the third quarter as Davis ran to the endzone with a Tanguay PAT to make it 14-13. He was followed by Ronnie Gile Jr. less then two minutes later, making a 12-yard run to the endzone. Tanguay converted another PAT to make it 21-13 in the Saints' favor. To end the third quarter, Trentan Daley made a 36-yard field goal to close the gap 21-16, still in SHU's favor.
The Saints opened the fourth quarter with a Deontae' Rush touchdown reception, coming from Lucas Barner Jr. 12 yards away. Tanguay sent one through for a 28-16 lead for SHU. Quarterback Allen ran eight yards for a RMU (1-3) touchdown, the PAT good from Daley to make it 28-23. Tanguay sent one through the uprights from 35 yards out, godd for three points for the Saints and a 31-23 lead with less than one minute to go in the game. The Eagles scored a touchdown with 33 seconds on the clock, Jeffri catching an Allen pass to make it 31-29. Robert Morris went for the two-point conversion, but quarterback Allen was sacked in the attempt. RMU was successful in the onside kick, but the SHU defense shut them down. Siena Heights recovering a fumble with eight seconds left and walked away with the first victory of the season.
Barner was the Saints lone quarterback on the day, going 14-for-22 while throwing for 134 yards and one touchdown. In the air, Adam Glanders brough in three catches for SHU for 43 yards as Damon Wright Jr. also caught three for 24 yards. Allen threw for 258 yards for RMU, including two touchdowns while being sacked six times.
On the ground, D'aries Davis had 33 carries for almost half of the Saint's yardage, 152 yards rushing. For the Eagles, Darius Burse managed 78 yards while EJ Rueck had 28.
Defensively, Raymond Williams Jr. made 10 total tackles while Malik Edwards managed four total tackles and three sacks for a total loss of 22 yards. Also earning sacks were Izayah Newsom, Wyatt Gardocki and Williams. For the Eagles, Keyon Lansdon and Dallis Flowers each made ten tackles.
SHU will return to action next Saturday as they defend their home turf against Saint Francis (Ill.) in a 12 p.m. MSFA crossover contest.
