| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Francis (Ill.) (6-2) | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (4-4) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University football team recognized its senior class as they hosted the Fighting Saints of St. Francis (Ill.) Saturday afternoon. The Tigers could not find the offense in key moments, falling 35-21 on senior day.
The first points of the game didn't come until the final minute of the first quarter when the Fighting Saints were able to break the scoreless tie with a five-yard touchdown run. The Tigers had their answer on the ground, with Evan Leake breaking off a 41-yard touchdown run on the following drive to knot the game up.
A methodical seven-minute touchdown drive on the next Fighting Saints possession put St. Francis back on top. The 'Purple Wave' defense was able to force a punt their next time out, but a Scott Tumilty interception off of Cameron Crouch set up another Fighting Saints touchdown.
Senior quarterback David Hutton executed a perfect two-minute drill, getting the ball with a 1:30 remaining, taking the Tigers all the way down the field and finding Brian Jenkins in the endzone with three ticks left on the clock to keep the Tigers within one score at the break.
Halftime: St. Francis (Ill.) 21, Olivet Nazarene 14
The third quarter was all St. Francis. The Fighting Saints scored on a one-yard rush and then opened their next drive up with a 65-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers down three scores. ONU was left off the scoreboard for the entirety of the third quarter.
The Tiger defense held on the next two drives, stopping the Saints on fourth down in the redzone. Crouch connected with Titus Maunakea for a seven-yard score to get the Tigers on the board one last time, but that was the last they would see of the endzone, falling to the Saints 35-21.
GAME VITALS
Final: St. Francis (Ill.) 35, Olivet Nazarene 21
Records: St. Francis (Ill.) 6-2 (5-0 MSFA) | Olivet Nazarene 4-4 (3-2 MSFA)
Location: Ward Field | Bourbonnais, Ill. | Olivet Nazarene University
QUICK HITS
- Leake led the rushing attack with 75 yards and a touchdown.
- Hutton was 11-of-18 through the air with a touchdown.
- Jenkins hauled in his ninth touchdown grab of the season.
- Braydon Cook recorded a game-high 11 tackles, forced a fumble, and broke up a pass.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tigers will close out their season on the road, beginning at Trinity International on Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CST.
--ONU—
*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu
