Posted: Nov 02, 2013
ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights football team fell short in its upset bid against 23rd-ranked Saint Francis (Ill.), dropping a 17-13 contest in Mid-States Football Association Mideast League action on Saturday at O'Laughlin Stadium.
After taking a 13-7 halftime lead, the Saints managed only 93 yards on offense while Saint Francis registered 10 unanswered points.
Linebacker Trenton Bragg was SHU's leading tackler with 9 1/2 stops, including 1 1/2 for-loss. Defensive lineman C.J. Marious added two tackles-for-loss, including a sack, while defensive backs Fred Butler and DeShawn Gilbert made interceptions.
USF (6-3, 4-1) assumed the game's first lead in the first quarter when quarterback E.J. White hit Troy Torrence downfield for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
Siena Heights kicker Victor Bodrie answered with a pair of field goals from 27 and 24 yards later in the first -- the second coming after Gilbert's 51-yard interception return from the SHU 40.
During the second quarter, fullback Burke Hart pushed across the only Saints' touchdown with a 1-yard rush, finishing off an eight-play, 80-yard drive as SHU took its only lead.
After SHU failed to score on the second-half opening drive, the Fighting Saints pieced together a 10-play, 80-yard march for themselves, finishing with a 43-yard pass from White to wide receiver Trace Wanless. The ensuing extra point put Saint Francis ahead for good.
On SHU's next five possessions, the home team compiled 42 yards on 18 plays as drives ended with two punts, two interceptions and one turnover-on-downs.
Saint Francis grabbed a 17-13 advantage in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard kick by Jordan Patsch.
With 3:18 left in the contest, the Saints were stopped on a fourth-and-3 play at their own 27-yard-line.
The SHU defense held strong after that on Saint Francis' next possession, culminating on Butler's interception in the Siena Heights end zone -- thwarting a knockout blow and advancing the ball to the Saints' own 40.
Five plays later, USF's Toney Brown came up with his second INT -- this one being the game-clincher.
Wide receiver Raphael Dunson had seven receptions for 48 yards while tight end Donovan Campbell finished with five catches for 54 yards for SHU. Also, wide receivers Reggie Blackmon and Damien Ross had three grabs apiece for 60 and 50 yards, respectively.
Quarterback Matt King finished 19 of 32 for 212 yards while leading rusher Dwayne Aaron II had 11 carries for 38 yards.
For Saint Francis, White completed 22 of 31 passes for 231 yards and rushed 19 times for 55 yards. Wide receiver Sheldon Magee made six catches for 19 yards while Torrence had four for 84 and Wanless went four for 60.
On defense, end Jeff Cascella was USF's leading tackler with 6 1/2 stops, including two for-loss (one sack).
Siena Heights (4-5, 1-4) will wrap up its regular season next Saturday with an MSFA Mideast game at Robert Morris (Ill.).
After taking a 13-7 halftime lead, the Saints managed only 93 yards on offense while Saint Francis registered 10 unanswered points.
Linebacker Trenton Bragg was SHU's leading tackler with 9 1/2 stops, including 1 1/2 for-loss. Defensive lineman C.J. Marious added two tackles-for-loss, including a sack, while defensive backs Fred Butler and DeShawn Gilbert made interceptions.
USF (6-3, 4-1) assumed the game's first lead in the first quarter when quarterback E.J. White hit Troy Torrence downfield for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
Siena Heights kicker Victor Bodrie answered with a pair of field goals from 27 and 24 yards later in the first -- the second coming after Gilbert's 51-yard interception return from the SHU 40.
During the second quarter, fullback Burke Hart pushed across the only Saints' touchdown with a 1-yard rush, finishing off an eight-play, 80-yard drive as SHU took its only lead.
After SHU failed to score on the second-half opening drive, the Fighting Saints pieced together a 10-play, 80-yard march for themselves, finishing with a 43-yard pass from White to wide receiver Trace Wanless. The ensuing extra point put Saint Francis ahead for good.
On SHU's next five possessions, the home team compiled 42 yards on 18 plays as drives ended with two punts, two interceptions and one turnover-on-downs.
Saint Francis grabbed a 17-13 advantage in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard kick by Jordan Patsch.
With 3:18 left in the contest, the Saints were stopped on a fourth-and-3 play at their own 27-yard-line.
The SHU defense held strong after that on Saint Francis' next possession, culminating on Butler's interception in the Siena Heights end zone -- thwarting a knockout blow and advancing the ball to the Saints' own 40.
Five plays later, USF's Toney Brown came up with his second INT -- this one being the game-clincher.
Wide receiver Raphael Dunson had seven receptions for 48 yards while tight end Donovan Campbell finished with five catches for 54 yards for SHU. Also, wide receivers Reggie Blackmon and Damien Ross had three grabs apiece for 60 and 50 yards, respectively.
Quarterback Matt King finished 19 of 32 for 212 yards while leading rusher Dwayne Aaron II had 11 carries for 38 yards.
For Saint Francis, White completed 22 of 31 passes for 231 yards and rushed 19 times for 55 yards. Wide receiver Sheldon Magee made six catches for 19 yards while Torrence had four for 84 and Wanless went four for 60.
On defense, end Jeff Cascella was USF's leading tackler with 6 1/2 stops, including two for-loss (one sack).
Siena Heights (4-5, 1-4) will wrap up its regular season next Saturday with an MSFA Mideast game at Robert Morris (Ill.).
