This Week for the Saints
Siena Heights (4-3, 3-1) vs. Indiana Wesleyan (6-1, 4-0)
Saturday, October 29 | Noon | O'Laughlin Stadium | Adrian, Mich.
THE GAME
The Siena Heights University Saints football team has the opportunity to earn its first victory over a top-five opponent when Indiana Wesleyan comes to town for a Mid-States Football Association Mideast League showdown inside O'Laughlin Stadium. This is the seventh time a top-five opponent has visited Siena Heights in the program's history.
MSFA MIDEAST STANDINGS
Saturday's contest has enormous implications for the league standings as the Wildcats sit atop things with a 4-0 mark in league play. Depending on this weekend's outcomes, SHU could enter a four-way tie for the top spot with Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor, and Marian.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the fourth meeting between Siena Heights University and Indiana Wesleyan University in football. The Saints captured the victory in the first meeting back in 2018 with a 31-10 win. IWU won the next two meetings by a touchdown before last year's matchup went to SHU via forfeit.
LEADING THE SAINTS
In the win over Lawrence Tech, Ryan Minor earned the starting job last week. Minor has a 55.8 completion percentage and 690 passing yards, and five touchdowns. He has also scored two touchdowns on the ground.
Kaleb Jefferson leads the way on the ground for SHU. He has 492 yards and five touchdowns this year. Jamon Benson II is the second-leading rusher with 361 yards and a touchdown this season.
Eric Williams II leads the receiving corps with 29 catches and 419 yards. Last week, he had a monster game with touchdowns on the ground and through the air. Williams II also compiled the second-most receiving yards in a game with 176. Michael Guyton has 300 yards receiving and three touchdowns on the season.
Kole Murlin continues to lead defensively with 83 tackles. His 11.9 tackles per game rank fifth in the NAIA (1st in the Mid-States Mideast). Zach Keyser has 43 stops from the linebacker position. Joseph Wharton and Vincent Walker lead the team in sacks with six. Walker leads the defense with 15.5 tackles for loss.
Anthony Secchi is 8-10 this season with a long of 47 yards. He remains perfect in extra-point attempts, making all 21 in 2022. Andrew Bookman has pinned 14 opponents inside the 20-yard line. He has accumulated 1,342 yards punting for an average of 35.3 yards per boot. His season-long is 66 yards.
LEADING THE WILDCATS
Xander Stokes leads the offense with 1,482 passing yards with a 66.5 completion percentage. He has thrown 16 touchdown passes and zero interceptions through the season's first seven games. Dederrian Williams leads the ground attack with 5.3 yards per carry and two touchdowns. Daniel Weems is the team's red zone threat, with five touchdown runs this year. Jacquez Carter and Markell Stephens-Peppers are the two leading receivers for IWU. Carter has six touchdowns and 612 yards, while Stephens-Peppers has three scores and 464 yards. Carter leads the team in all-purpose yards with 103.7 per game.
Indiana Wesleyan has an opportunistic defense as the unit leads the NAIA with 16 interceptions. Leading the way in that category is Donovan Shelton, with six picks. Clayton Mosher leads in tackles with 52, and Isaac Abeo is the leading pass rusher with four sacks.
WATCH & LISTEN
Fans can follow the action via live stats and video. The game will also be broadcasted on 96.5 FM The Cave live or online Saturday afternoon.
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