Posted: Mar 05, 2021
This Week for the Saints
Saturday, March 6
at Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats *
2 PM | Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Stadium
THE GAME
The #22 Saints (0-1, 0-1 MEL) will look to avenge their week one loss when they hit the road to face Indiana Wesleyan (0-1, 0-0 MEL). The Wildcats are coming off a bye week after their second game of the season against Lawrence Tech was canceled due to COVID. Indiana Wesleyan lost to Olivet Nazarene, 44-20, to open the season on February 20.
Wesleyan took a 13-10 late the first half, but ONU scored 14 unanswered points before halftime and never looked back.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the third meeting between Siena Heights and Indiana Wesleyan. The Saints took the first contest in 2018 by a score of 31-10. That game took place in Adrian.
Last season in Marion, Indiana, the Wildcats upset SHU 28-21. Indiana Wesleyan scored 10 points in the third quarter to pull ahead by a touchdown and held off the Saints for the victory.
In the first two matchups, the team that wins the rushing yards battle has come out victorious. The Saints outgained the Wildcats on the ground 221-28 in the first game; IWU held a 125-105 edge in the second game.
Siena Heights will look to alter the trend of the home team winning in this series this season.
LEADING THE SAINTS
Justin McCowin made his first career start under center for the Saints against Concordia (Mich.). He was 12-22 (54.5%) through the air for 126 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Jamon Benson II was the leading rusher with four carries for 15 yards. Eric Williams led the wideouts with three catches for 80 yards that included the 70-yard touchdown reception.
Defensively Siena is led by linebacker Kole Murlin who had 17 total tackles against the Cardinals in week one. Trenton Morrow was second in tackles with 11 total. Gabe Callery had seven tackles and Wyatt Gardocki registered six. The Saints pressured the quarterback but failed to record a sack against CUAA.
Caleb Meister was the leader in special teams as he tallied nine punts for 335 yards (37.2 Avg). His longest punt of the season was 55 yards.
LEADING THE WILDCATS
Indiana Wesleyan is led in the ground game by Payton Shoemaker. He carried the ball 21 times for 106 yards against Olivet Nazarene. Xander Stokes was 18-39 (46.2%) passing for 187 yards and a touchdown. Brayden Smith was the leading receiver with six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Josh Davidson leads with 12 tackles. Ismael Avila has nine and Jamis Carson totaled eight. Like the Saints, the Wildcats failed to record a sack in their first game of the season.
Ben VonGunten was 2-2 in field goal attempts. His longest was from 39-yards out. He was also the team's punter. He booted the ball three times for 140 yards in the game. His longest was 48 yards.
The game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff. Fans can follow the game via live stats and video. The game will also be broadcasted on WLEN online or by tuning into 96.5 FM The Cave live or online Saturday afternoon.
