ADRIAN, Mich. -- Trailing 27-23 with 26 seconds left, the Siena Heights football team drove 54 yards in five plays and took one final shot at the end zone before falling to defending NAIA champ Marian (Ind.) in Mid-States Football Association Mideast League play on Saturday at O'Laughlin Stadium.

On the game's final play, SHU lined up at the Knights' 23-yard-line as quarterback Travis Zajkowski heaved a pass into the end zone that was knocked away by Marian defense back Eric Price.

The Knights (3-3, 2-0) had taken the lead on a 22-yard touchdown run by running back Robert Gibson with 33 seconds left in the game.

SHU tight end Donovan Campbell made six catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns while running back Ja'Tice K. Shaw II had 18 carries for 106 yards and a score. Wide receiver Raphael Dunson added five receptions for 49 yards.

Both Zajkowski and Matt King saw time under center. Zajkowski completed 13 of 18 passes for 119 yards and one TD while King was 8 of 13 for 87 yards and a TD.

Punt returner Fred Butler had two punt returns for 41 yards with both returns setting up scoring drives.

On defense, defensive back Sederick A. Dunbar II had six tackles and linebacker Tyler Karcher made 5 1/2 stops. Linebacker Nate Pupel added a sack and forced fumble while defensive back DeShawn Gilbert made his fourth interception of the season.

SHU (3-3, 0-2) enjoyed an early 13-3 lead -- courtesy of an eight-yard TD run by Shaw and a 14-yard scoring pass from King to Campbell -- before visiting Marian rattled off 17 second-quarter points to take a 20-13 halftime lead.

A 10-yard pass from Zajkowski to Campbell helped the Saints tie the game at 20-all with 6:26 left in the third quarter before kicker Victor Bodrie connected on a 21-yard field goal to give SHU a 23-20 advantage with 1:55 remaining.

From there, Gibson returned the ensuing SHU kickoff to the Marian 41 and then the Knights marched 59 yards in five plays, getting a 27-yard run from leading rusher Tevin Lake and then the go-ahead score by Gibson.

Marian had three rushing TDs of 20 yards or more, including a 26-yard scamper by wide receiver Taylor Summa and a 26-yard jaunt by Gibson.

Lake rushed 21 times for 116 yards while Gibson had seven carries for 52 yards and the two TDs. Quarterback Joey Hecklinski completed 8 of 14 throws for the MU offense, adding up to 87 yards. Gibson had four catches for 14 yards.

Marian sacks were recorded by defensive tackle Jamar Wilhite, defensive end Bryan Derence and linebacker Narvin Powell. Powell and Derence had forced fumbles and linebacker Robert Palmer made an interception.

In many statistical areas, the Saints outperformed their visitors. SHU had 20 first downs to Marian's 15. Siena Heights also outgained Marian, 336-285, and had a time-of-possession of 35:54.

SHU will return to action next Saturday with its shortest road trip of the season. The Saints will take on Concordia for an MSFA Mideast contest, beginning at 1 p.m. at Ann Arbor's Riverbank Stadium.