Posted: Oct 13, 2012
ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights football team suffered a 45-7 loss to sixth-ranked Saint Xavier (Ill.) in Mid-States Football Association Mideast League play on Saturday at O'Laughlin Stadium.
Quarterback Travis Zajkowski scored the Saints' lone touchdown just two plays after defensive back Sederick Dunbar II intercepted a pass by Cougar quarterback Joe Gill.
A 31-yard rush by running back Drew Milligan put the ball on the SXU one-yard-line before Zajkowski scored. Kicker Jonah Harter followed with an extra point as the Saints (3-4, 2-2) trimmed their deficit to 38-7 with 5:55 left in the third quarter.
The Cougars (5-1, 1-1), who are the defending NAIA champions, opened the scoring on their second drive of the game and never looked back.
Starting quarterback Jimmy Coy connected with wide receivers Chase Catton and Nick DeBenedetti on touchdown passes of seven and 27 yards, respectively, as SXU grabbed a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter.
Running back Nick Pesek provided the next three touchdowns runs from two, 42 and 11 yards out and the visitors had a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Kicker Spencer Nolan booted a 23-yard field goal, extending the Saint Xavier advantage to 38-0, before Zajkowski's TD.
The game's final touchdown came on a 37-yard pass from Gill to running back/wide receiver Austin Feeney with 5:16 remaining in the third.
Milligan had 16 carries for 64 yards and was the Saints' leading gainer on the ground. Zajkowski and fellow quarterback Matt King split time with Zajkowski going 4 of 14 for 52 yards while King was 5 of 10 for 29 yards.
Milligan, wide receiver Reggie Blackmon , tight end Donovan Campbell and running back/wide receiver Raphael Dunson had two receptions apiece with Blackmon leading in yardage with 22.
Linebacker Derek J. Head was the Saints' leading tackler with 5 1/2 stops while defensive back Fred Butler (Romulus, Mich./Romulus) and linebacker Tyler Karcher had five tackles apiece.
Sacks were credited to defensive linemen Kyle Connors , Joseph Mravec and Collin Teff , who helped the Saints record nine tackles-for-loss.
Linebacker Jerrett Walker forced a fumble while special teamer Spencer Revenberg and linebacker Lamarr Marshall recovered fumbles.
Pesek led the SXU offense, carrying the ball just 11 times for 176 yards. In the passing game, Coy went 17 of 26 for 196 yards while Gill was 4 of 9 for 49. DeBenedetti was the leading receiver with six grabs for 47 yards. The Cougar defense was led by linebacker Zach Dolph's six tackles and defensive back Tyler Hoeg, who had an interception.
The Saints will now begin a three-game stretch of road games in which they will close out the regular season. They will visit Grand View (Iowa) next week for a 2 p.m. (1 p.m. CST) kickoff in Des Moines.
Quarterback Travis Zajkowski scored the Saints' lone touchdown just two plays after defensive back Sederick Dunbar II intercepted a pass by Cougar quarterback Joe Gill.
A 31-yard rush by running back Drew Milligan put the ball on the SXU one-yard-line before Zajkowski scored. Kicker Jonah Harter followed with an extra point as the Saints (3-4, 2-2) trimmed their deficit to 38-7 with 5:55 left in the third quarter.
The Cougars (5-1, 1-1), who are the defending NAIA champions, opened the scoring on their second drive of the game and never looked back.
Starting quarterback Jimmy Coy connected with wide receivers Chase Catton and Nick DeBenedetti on touchdown passes of seven and 27 yards, respectively, as SXU grabbed a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter.
Running back Nick Pesek provided the next three touchdowns runs from two, 42 and 11 yards out and the visitors had a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Kicker Spencer Nolan booted a 23-yard field goal, extending the Saint Xavier advantage to 38-0, before Zajkowski's TD.
The game's final touchdown came on a 37-yard pass from Gill to running back/wide receiver Austin Feeney with 5:16 remaining in the third.
Milligan had 16 carries for 64 yards and was the Saints' leading gainer on the ground. Zajkowski and fellow quarterback Matt King split time with Zajkowski going 4 of 14 for 52 yards while King was 5 of 10 for 29 yards.
Milligan, wide receiver Reggie Blackmon , tight end Donovan Campbell and running back/wide receiver Raphael Dunson had two receptions apiece with Blackmon leading in yardage with 22.
Linebacker Derek J. Head was the Saints' leading tackler with 5 1/2 stops while defensive back Fred Butler (Romulus, Mich./Romulus) and linebacker Tyler Karcher had five tackles apiece.
Sacks were credited to defensive linemen Kyle Connors , Joseph Mravec and Collin Teff , who helped the Saints record nine tackles-for-loss.
Linebacker Jerrett Walker forced a fumble while special teamer Spencer Revenberg and linebacker Lamarr Marshall recovered fumbles.
Pesek led the SXU offense, carrying the ball just 11 times for 176 yards. In the passing game, Coy went 17 of 26 for 196 yards while Gill was 4 of 9 for 49. DeBenedetti was the leading receiver with six grabs for 47 yards. The Cougar defense was led by linebacker Zach Dolph's six tackles and defensive back Tyler Hoeg, who had an interception.
The Saints will now begin a three-game stretch of road games in which they will close out the regular season. They will visit Grand View (Iowa) next week for a 2 p.m. (1 p.m. CST) kickoff in Des Moines.
