FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The 20th-ranked Siena Heights football team lost in heartbreaking fashion to 13th-ranked St. Francis (Ind.) 22-19 in overtime. Gabe Callery led the Saints defense in the losing effort. The redshirt freshman was all over the field at the safety spot and registered four tackles, one for loss, and a fumble recovery. He also tallied an interception and a pass breakup in coverage.
THE BASICS
Final Score: St. Francis (Ind.) 22, Siena Heights 19 - Final/OT
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana (Bishop D'Arcy Stadium)
Records: St. Francis (5-2), Siena Heights (5-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints scored first after a Brady Tanguay 26-yard field goal attempt was successful on the team's second drive of the game. The kick capped a 10-play 77-yard drive and put Siena up 3-0.
A fumble on the kickoff was recovered by the Saints Dane Hullibarger at the Cougar 21-yard line. Siena would have to settle for a field goal after three plays. Tanguay drilled the 42-yard attempt to put the Saints up 6-0 with 1:43 left in the opening quarter.
Stan Jackson returned the kickoff 60 yards to the Siena 24-yard line to give St. Francis great field position. The Saints were able to stall the Cougar's drive and forced Gavin Gardner to kick the 31-yard field goal, putting the score at 6-3 in favor of SHU.
St. Francis would score another field goal with 3:04 left in the second quarter to tie the game. The kick sealed an 11-play 50-yard drive for the Cougars.
The Saints drove the ball down to the USF 14 and sent Tanguay back on the field with just seconds left in the half. The attempt was blocked by USF's Marcus Stepp and the ball was scooped up by the Cougars but the returner was tripped up before he could score with time expired on the clock for the first half.
St. Francis took a 9-6 lead on its first drive of the third quarter on a 28-yard field goal from Gardner with 8:47 left on the clock.
The score would remain the same through the remainder of the third quarter. The first touchdown was tallied by the Saints after Jared Jordan completed a 10-play 72-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 11:30 remaining in regulation. The extra point attempt was blocked by the Cougars and was picked up by Wilmer Cole and returned all the way to the house to give USF two points and Siena a one-point lead instead of a four-point lead, 12-11.
Siena took eight minutes off the board on its next drive as the team methodically moved the ball down the field 80 yards. Jordan scored a five-yard rushing touchdown and Tanguay added the extra point to put the Saints up 19-11 with just 1:17 left on the clock. The touchdown was set up by a 14-yard reception by Deontae' Rush from Tyler Knecht on 4th down.
The Cougars drove 61 yards down the field and scored on a two-yard jump pass from running back PJ Dean to Dylan Hunley with just 11 seconds remaining. USF completed the two-point conversion on a reverse pass from Dan Ricksy to Will Chrisman to tie the game at 19.
Siena took a knee and settled for overtime. The Cougars won the toss and elected to be on defense first in the extra period. The Saints drove the ball to the USF 14-yard line and were facing a 3rd-and-9 when Knecht's pass was intercepted by Blake Schumaker to give St. Francis the ball.
USF got the ball to the Siena seven-yard line and made a 26-yard field goal to end the game.
TOP SAINTS
Offense
• Knecht finished 16-29 passing for 212 yards.
• D'aries Davis had 29 carries for 98 yards.
• Jared Jordan tallied two touchdown runs on 16 carries for 63 yards.
• Damon Wright Jr. had five catches for 40 yards. Rush finished with three receptions for 80 yards. Adam Glanders also had three catches for 70 yards.
Defense
• Trenton Morrow led the Saints with nine tackles and one pass break up.
• Jeremiah Davis recorded seven tackles, two for loss, and one sack.
• EJ Shaah had four tackles and a forced fumble.
• Trevon Claybourne also had four tackles, one pass break up, and an interception.
• Malik Edwards finished with three tackles and recorded his eighth sack of the season.
Special Teams
• Tanguay was 2/3 in field goals with a long of 42 yards.
• Caleb Meister punted five times for 164 yards.
THE OPPOSITION
Offense
• Matt Crable was 13-25 through the air for 179 yards.
• PJ Dean had 12 carries for 57 yards. Justin Green had 10 rushes for 39 yards.
• Dylan Hunley scored the only touchdown reception of the game.
Defense
• Eric Dunten led the Cougars with 22 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
• Jalen Moss finished with 13 tackles, 1.5 for loss.
• Piercen Harnish and Marcus Stepp each had 11 tackles in the game.
Special Teams
• Gavin Gardner was 4/4 in field goals.
• Joe Knepper punted three times for 102 yards and pinned one punt inside the 20.
UP NEXT
Siena returns home this Saturday, October 20, to host Indiana Wesleyan. The game is slated for a 12:00 p.m., EDT, kickoff.