ADRIAN, Mich. -- The 23rd-ranked Siena Heights University football team cruised to a 40-13 win over Taylor on 2018 homecoming. The game delayed for a little over three hours due to thunderstorms. Nick Stalworth led the dominant Saints defense with 10 tackles and a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Siena Heights 40, Taylor 13
Location: Adrian, Michigan (O'Laughlin Stadium)
Records: Siena Heights (5-0, 2-0 MSFA), Taylor (2-3, 0-1 MSFA)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Damon Wright Jr. put the Saints on the board with a one-yard run that capped an 11-play, 74-yard drive that put Siena up 6-0 with 10:16 remaining in the opening quarter.
Taylor cut the deficit to three points after a 23-yard field goal that finished a 12-play, 70-yard drive that put the score 6-3 with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter.
Siena scored in the first three seconds of the second quarter when Jared Jordan scored on a three-yard run. The score was 13-3 after Brady Tanguay made the point after touchdown. The Saints extended their lead to 16-3 with a 33-yard field goal with 10:03 left to play in the first half. Jorden would score his second touchdown of the game less than five minutes later with a one-yard scamper into the end zone. The PAT would give Sina the 23-3 lead with 5:25 left on the clock. Tyler Knecht connected with Adam Glanders for a 19-yard touchdown in a three-play drive that only took 15 seconds off the clock. The Trojans scored the final points of the first half with a 35-yard field goal as time expired to put the score at 30-6.
The third quarter started at 8:50 p.m., after a 3:10 delay. The only score in the third quarter came off a fumble recovery by Taylor that cut the Saint lead to 30-13.
Tanguay increased the lead to 33-13 with a 25-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Stalworth put the game away with his 45-yard pick six for the final score of the game.
TOP SAINTS
Offense
• D'aires Davis led the Saints ground game with 117 yards on 22 carries in the game.
• Jordan scored two rushing touchdowns on 11 carries for 37 yards.
• Knecht was 17-25 passing for 167 yards and a touchdown.
• Wright Jr. hauled in three receptions for 49 yards.
Defense
• Logan Smith tallied nine tackles.
• Trevon Claybourne, Santangho Reynold, and Izayah Newsom each recorded six tackles. Newsom had 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack.
• Malik Edwards led the Saints with three sacks and two tackles for loss.
Special Teams
• Tanguay was 2/3 for field goals with a long of 33 yards. He was also 4/5 in extra points.
• Caleb Meister totaled three punts for 111 yards.
• Brock Quinlan booted eight kickoffs for 402 yards.
THE OPPOSITION
Offense
• Daniel Boy led the Trojans in receiving with five catches for 42 yards.
• Spencer Crisp had 11 carries for 71 yards with a long of 40.
• Zac Satlzgaber was 13-25 passing for 83 yards. Everett Pollard finished 9-13 for 65 yards.
Defense
• TJ Swore led the Trojan defense with nine stops and two tackles for loss.
• Jackso Bronkem finished with eight tackles.
• Matt Nguyen and Mark Baker each tallied six tackles.
Special Teams
• Austi Gunderson was 2/2 in field goals with a long of 35 yards. He also punted three times for 86 yards and had three kickoffs go 161 yards.
UP NEXT
The Saints will look to increase their winning streak to six games as they make their final road trip of the season on Saturday, October 13 when they face defending NAIA national champion and 5th-ranked St. Francis (Ind.). Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., EDT.