ADRIAN, Mich. – The Siena Heights football team was overwhelmed by the defending National Champions and top-ranked Saint Francis (Ind.), falling 36-9 in Mid-States Football Association Mideast League action on Homecoming Saturday.

On the opening drive of the game, Justin Green carried the ball 57 yards for a Cougar touchdown with 13:04 remaining in the first quarter. The Siena Heights' defense answered, blocking a USF punt a few drives later and earning a safety to make the score 7-2 with 2:20 on the clock.

In the second quarter, the Cougars' Gavin Gardner sent one through the uprights to go up 10-2 over SHU, 8:51 on the clock. A poor snap four a SHU punt setup USF on the Saints' six-yard line for a quick touchdown run from Justin Green at the 7:36 mark. To end the first half, Gardner sent another one through to make the halftime score 20-2.

For his third touchdown of the day, Green ran five yards to put the Cougars up 27-2 with 5:47 on the third quarter clock. Only nine seconds later, a poor snap led to a USF safety to give the Cougars two more points to make it 29-2. The Saints scored their lone touchdown of the night as D'aries Davis carried the ball one yard into the end zone, Brady Tanguay adding a PAT to make it 29-9.

The Cougars took to the ground again as Ryan Cindar had a two-yard run to earn the final USF touchdown of the night and make it 36-9 with 11:33 remaining in the game.

As a team, Siena Heights (4-3, 2-1 MSFA MEL) mustered up 249 total offensive yards, led by quarterback Lucas Barner Jr. who threw for 196 yards in 20 completions. Braelen Bader managed seven catches for a total of 81 yards while Damon Wright Jr. brought in 5 for 65 yards. D'aries Davis ran for 49 yards in 19 carries to lead SHU.

For the Cougars (7-0, 3-0 MSFA MEL), quarterback Nick Ferrer had 15 completions for a total of 197 yards as the offense collected 401 total yards. In the air, Sean Boswell had 5 catches for 59 yards. Leading the rushers was Green with 142 total yards in 21 carries.

Defensively, Da'Quan Butler led the Saints with 10 tackles, nine of which were unassisted. For Saint Francis, Eric Dunten managed the same stat line: 10 tackles, nine unassisted and one assisted.

Siena Heights will take a week off prior to facing No. 13 Marian on Saturday, Oct. 28, in Indianapolis. The MSFA contest is slated for 1 p.m.