Posted: Feb 26, 2021
The Game: The #22 Saints open the 2020-21 season with a game against MId-East League rival #13 Concordia (Mich.) on Saturday, February 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM. This is the first game of the season for both Siena Heights and the Cardinals.
Series History: This is the ninth meeting between Concordia (Mich.) and Siena Heights. The Cardinals have won the last five meetings to hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series. Last season's matchup was a 10-7 win by CUAA in Ann Arbor. The Cardinals scored in the final few minutes of the game to earn the win.
This will be the third time the two teams have met while both being ranked. The Cardinals won the other two meetings in that scenario.
Top Returners: The Saints were led under center by Tyler Knecht. He finished the year 121-200 through the air with 1414 yards, 13 TDs, and eight interceptions. Kaleb Jefferson was the leader in the ground game with 926 rushing yards (5.7 AVG), six touchdowns, and a long of 95 yards (a single record for the Saints.). The leading returner for the receiving group is Pianki Abdul-Hakiym. He finished 2019 with 19 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Linebacker Kole Murlin was the leading tackler for Siena during the 2019 campaign. He finished with 114 stops, seven tackles for loss, and an interception. Nick Stalworth was second on the team with 77 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and an interception. Trenton Morrow had a team-high five interceptions. He was chosen to the 2020 College Football America Yearbook NAIA Starting Lineup.
The Saints return one of their biggest weapons from a season ago in punter Caleb Meister. Meister had 2255 total yards punted with an average of 40.3 yards per punt. His season-long was 67 yards. He was 11th in the NAIA in yards per punt and made a habit out of pinning opponents deep into their own territory with precision kicks to the corners of the field.
Scouting Concordia: Peter Morrison was the leading passer for the Cardinals in 2019. He threw for 1822 yards on 152-241 passing for 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. Concordia has new faces in the backfield as leading rusher Omar Sinclair is no longer on the team. Parker Graham moves out wide as a receiver for the Cardinals this season. He rushed 56 times for 292 yards and four touchdowns in 2019.
Hunter Maynard finished third on the team in tackles with 70 total tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a team-high five interceptions. Alex Hinojosa was fourth on the team with 68 tackles, 12.5 for loss, and 8.5 sacks.
Wyatt Mast was 8-15 in field goals in 2019. He had a season-long 47-yard boot the previous season.
Season Breakdown: The Saints begin the season with the game against No. 13 Concordia (Mich.) on February 27. Siena Heights hit the road in week two when the team travels to Indiana Wesleyan for a 2:00 p.m., kickoff. Week three is a home contest against Lawrence Tech at 12 p.m. The second-straight home game against newcomer Madonna is scheduled on March 20, also a noon kickoff. The toughest matchup of the season happens on March 27 when SHU travels to Indianapolis for a game against second-ranked Marian. The final home game against St. Francis (Ind.) kicks off the month of April. The final game of the season is in Indiana when the Saints face Taylor (Ind.).
The most up-to-date spectator policy at O'Laughlin Stadium can be found here.
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 live or online Saturday afternoon.
