ADRIAN, Mich. -- The No. 18 Siena Heights Saints (6-1, 2-1) head to Fort Wayne, Indiana this weekend to face the sixth-ranked Cougars of Saint Francis (Ind.) (5-1. 2-1) in a battle of top-25 teams. Both teams will be looking to improve to 3-1 in league play and continue pursuit of the top spot in the Mideast League standings.
Siena enters the game following a 41-20 win on the road over Lawrence Tech last week. The Saints built a 41-6 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils continued to fight and were able to score two late touchdowns to cut the deficit to only 21 points before the clock struck zeros. SHU's only loss came at the hands of then No. 5 Concordia (Mich.) in a heartbreaking 10-7 loss in Ann Arbor, Michigan just three weeks ago.
Saint Francis (Ind.) enters the game 5-1 after back-to-back close wins over Indiana Wesleyan (31-30) and then No. 4 Concordia (Mich.) (34-27). The Cougars rallied back from a 14-point deficit to tie the game late in the second quarter against IWU. They tied things again in the third quarter at 21 before finally taking the lead (28-21) with 7:54 remaining in the third. They extended the lead to 10-points (31-21) going into the final quarter of play. Indiana Wesleyan's rally fell just short as they scored with 39 seconds remaining but the extra point attempt failed was no good and Saint Francis (Ind.) squeaked out a one-point win. The Cougars needed to block a game-winning field goal attempt and return it 65-yards for a touchdown to defeat the Cardinals two weeks ago.
This will be the eighth meeting between Siena Heights and Saint Francis (Ind.) in football. The Cougars hold a 6-1 advantage in the series including a 3-1 record against the Saints in Fort Wayne. Saint Francis (Ind.) needed a comeback against the Saints last season as Siena held a 19-11 lead with just 1:17 remaining in regulation. USF drove 61 yards in 1:01 to score and complete the two-point try to force overtime where the Cougars kicked a game-winning field goal to win the game 22-19. The Saints lone victory over the Cougars came in Fort Wayne in 2014 after a 27-21 outcome.
Quarterback Tyler Knecht (King Mills, Ohio) had a career day last week as he threw four touchdown passes and was 20-34 passing for 247 yards. He is 75-107 (70.1%) for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. The backfield is led by Kaleb Jefferson (Bluffton, Ohio) who has totaled 702 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. Freshmen Ethan LoPresto (Montgomery, Mich.) and Andre Chenault (Mount Clemens, Mich.) have also contributed to the Saint running game with 268 and 183 yards respectively. LoPresto has four touchdowns on the year while Chenault has one. Jared Jordan (Grosse Point Woods, Mich.) has also rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Jerrold King (Eastpointe, Mich.) leads the SHU receivers with 16 catches for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Pianki Abdul-Hakiym (Detroit, Mich.) continues to be a threat from the H-Back position with 15 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Young (Saginaw, Mich.) and Timothy Brown (Detroit, Mich.) have also added to the passing game with Young hauling in 13 passes for 91 yards and Brown accumulating 12 receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Saints are led by Kole Murlin (Celina, Ohio) with 72 tackles, five for loss, one forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. Nick Stalworth (Clarkston, Mich.) has 57 tackles, 2.5 for loss, two forced fumbles, and one recovery. Griffin Sobol (Morris, Ill.) and Gabe Callery (Traverse City, Mich.) have 37 and 36 tackles respectively. Sobol has 1.5 sacks, two TFL, and a fumble recovery to his credit; Callery has 2.5 TFL, a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and has scored a defensive touchdown. Trevon Claybourne (Redford, Mich.) and Trenton Morrow (Norwalk, Ohio) both have 27 tackles. Claybourne has registered a sack, a forced fumble, interception and a pass breakup from the corner position. Morrow leads the team with five interceptions, which ties for second in the individual season record books.
Caleb Meister (Toledo, Ohio) is the main weapon in the field position game as he has 40 punts this season for 1673 yards (41.8 AVG). He has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 23 times this season. Anthony Secchi (Sterling Heights, Mich.) is 23-25 (92%) in extra-point attempts this year.
The Cougars are led by Matt Crable at quarterback. Crable is 66-120 (55.0%) passing for 959 yards and 12 touchdowns. Martell Williams leads in the running game with 528 yards and five touchdowns. Dan Ricksy has 31 catches for 455 yards and two touchdowns to lead the receivers. Rocky James also has two touchdowns and 206 receiving yards. Matt Koninkiewicz leads the team with four touchdown catches.
Nick Lucas leads the defense with 62 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and half a sack. Jamal Jackson has 37 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Blake Schumacher has 36 stops and two fumble recoveries.
Gavin Gardner leads the kicking game completing all four of his field-goal attempts. His longest is 36 yards. Joe Knepper has 22 punts for 874 yards (39.7 AVG) and a long of 65.
The game is scheduled to kickoff at 12:00 p.m., EST. Fans can follow the game via live stats and the live stream. The game will also be broadcasted on WLEN online by tuning into 96.5 FM The Cave on Saturday afternoon.
