Posted: Nov 14, 2019
ADRIAN, Mich. -- The (18) Siena Heights football team will host (2) Marian (Ind.) this week in a Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast game. Today's game is the final regular-season contest for 2019 and is "Senior Day" for the Saints. Siena Heights enters today's contest with a 7-2 overall record and a 4-2 MSFA MEL mark. The Saints are coming off a bye week after a 28-21 upset loss at Indiana Wesleyan two weeks ago.
The Knights are undefeated at 8-0 and have a 5-0 mark in the MSFA MEL. Marian defeated Indiana Wesleyan on the road last week 33-21. This is the eighth time Siena Heights and Marian (Ind.) will meet in football. The Knights lead the series 7-0 including a 4-0 mark at O'Laughlin Stadium. Last season's matchup was also in Adrian, Michigan. Marian (Ind.) won that game 27-14.
The Saints are led offensively by quarterback Tyler Knecht who is 108-170 for 1228 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air. Knecht has also rushed for 59 yards and two scores. The running game is led by Kaleb Jefferson. Jefferson has totaled 836 yards on 142 carries and six touchdowns. His 836 rushing yards is ranked 20th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as does his rushing yards-per-game with 92.9. Ethan LoPresto has run for 282 yards and four touchdowns while Jared Jordan has scored six times on the ground while accumulating 209 yards. Jerrold King has led the Siena Heights receivers with 21 catches for 324 yards and five touchdowns. Pianki Abdul-Hakiym has 18 snags for 160 yards and a touchdown from the H-Back position.
The Saints defensive unit is one of the best in the country ranking in the top 10 in numerous statistical categories including first in opponent penalties (270), fifth in scoring defense per game (11.1), seventh in opponent 4th-down conversions (27.8), ninth in rushing defense per game (97.7), and 10th in total defense per game (280.3). Kole Murlin leads the team in tackles with 101, 44 of those are solo stops. He has added 6.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and half a sack. Nick Stalworth has 70 stops, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery. Gabe Callery has registered 51 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two INTs, and a fumble recovery. Griffin Sobol: 48 tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Trenton Morrow: 40 tackles, four for loss, five interceptions, and two sacks.
Special teams are lead by Caleb Meister with 48 punts for 1983 yards (41.3 AVG) and a long of 67. Anthony Secchi is 1-2 in field-goal attempts this year. Cameron Thompson is the team's leading returner with five kick returns for 33 yards.
Marian is led offensively by quarterback Ethan Darter who has completed 93 of his 161 passing attempts for 1475 yards and 13 touchdowns. The running game is led by Charles Salary with 214 carries, 1157 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Jordan Williams leads the receivers with 29 catches for 532 yards and four touchdowns. Jared Clark and Greg Miller Jr. have each hauled in 18 passes. Clark has gone for 208 yards and two touchdowns while Miller has 333 yards and three scores.
The Knights are led on defense by Nickai Poyser with 61 tackles, 10 TFL, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Darrell Wilson has totaled 40 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and an interception. Bailey Bennett has 36 stops, two for loss. Mac Dutra has registered 35 tackles, 11.5 TFL, and a team-high 8.5 sacks. Krystapher Oakley leads the team with two interceptions while also having the fifth-most tackles with 28.
Matt Plesac is 4-6 in field goals with a season-long of 36 yards. Luke Frain has punted 37 times for 1421 yards and a season-long of 62. Ben Stevens has returned 23 punts for 254 yards and took one punt to the house for a score. Money Woods lead the kick returners with six returns for 148 yards.
The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff. Fans can follow the game via live stats and live stream. The game will also be broadcasted on WLEN online or by tuning into 96.5 FM The Cave on Saturday afternoon.
