After running back Travis Damron rushed for his third touchdown of the game, the Saints (1-1) had a chance to tie the score at 36-all, but a pass by quarterback Matt King  was broken up by an Iowa Wesleyan defender to end the game.

SHU tied the contest with 1:52 left in regulation when King found tight end Donovan Campbell  for a 25-yard touchdown pass; kicker Jonah Harter followed with the game-tying extra point to make the score 28-28.

The Saints had a chance to win the game in regulation after linebacker Tyler Karcher (Middleville, Mich./Thornapple-Kellogg) picked off IWC quarterback Kevin McConnell with 56 seconds left. The Saints followed up by advancing as far as the Iowa Wesleyan 35 before King was intercepted himself.

In the first overtime, defensive back Sederick Dunbar II  made an interception in SHU's end zone, giving the Saints a chance to win the game on their possession, but an eventual 37-yard field goal attempt by Harter sailed left to force the second overtime.

Neither team scored in double OT with IWC missing a field goal and the Saints faking their three-point attempt, but failing to gain a first down. 

In the third OT, McConnell dove one yard for his third touchdown of the game, putting the Tigers (1-1) up 34-28. The hosts followed with a two-point conversion in which McConnell dropped the ball to the turf, recovered it and then found Thomas Barkei for the decisive two-point pass.

McConnell gave IWC the early lead when he burst through the SHU defense for a 61-yard dash to paydirt in the second quarter. King helped the Saints tie the game at 7-all with an 11-yard run before another McConnell carry – this one from three yards out – aided the hosts to a 14-7 halftime lead.

The Saints scored 14 consecutive points in the second half, starting with a Damron four-yard touchdown run. Damron later scampered for a 24-yard score as the Saints grabbed a 21-14 lead.

Then came two Tiger TDs that were 1:12 apart. McConnell found Daniel Veal for a 7-yard touchdown hookup and after a King interception, McConnell tossed to Buddy Guastella for a 34-yard touchdown, getting the Tigers their final lead in regulation at 28-21.

Damron finished with 22 carries for 90 yards and the three scores while fellow running back Julius Taylor Jr. rushed 16 times for 51 yards.

King was 9 of 17 for 82 yards with five of his completions going to Campbell for 45 yards.

For the SHU defense, linebacker Trent Bragg  had 13 tackles while Dunbar had 12 tackles to go with his two picks.

Defensive lineman Robert Becker  forced a fumble and recovered another and defensive lineman Collin Teff recorded one fumble recovery.

For Iowa Wesleyan, McConnell toed the line between hero and goat, finishing 14 of 23 for 196 yards and three interceptions while compiling 23 carries for 191 yards and two fumbles in the running game.

The Saints will return home and get ready for a 1 p.m. matchup next Saturday against No. 3 Marian (Ind.).