FAST START NOT ENOUGH IN 38-13 SETBACK AT ST. FRANCIS

JOLIET, Ill. – A strong start was wasted as the Olivet Nazarene University football team fell on the road to St. Francis (Ill.) 38-13 Saturday afternoon at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

ONU got out to a great start, manufacturing two quick scoring drives that ended in touchdowns to take a commanding 13-0 lead less than six minutes into the opening quarter. It only took the Tigers three plays to find the end zone with Christian Dhue-Reid capping off their first drive with a 20-yard scoring strike to Brandon Jackson on the game's opening drive.

After the Tiger defense forced a USF punt on their first possession, it only took the Tigers two plays to get back into the endzone. Dhue-Reid zipped a pass to Ray Coffey who made a 94-yard house call to put the Tigers up 13-0 in a hurry.

But the Fighting Saints (7-2, 3-1 MSFA) proved why they were receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top-25 poll, quickly getting into the endzone on their next two possessions to snag a 15-13 lead before the first quarter closed.

USF would go on to score 38 unanswered points as the Tigers were left off the scoreboard outside of the first quarter. The loss knocks the Tigers down to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the MSFA Midwest league.

Dhue-Reid shined in his first start of the season at quarterback, completing 13 of his 23 pass attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Evan Leake and Aaron Bennett handled the run game with 46 and 20 yards on the ground, respectively.

Coffey eclipsed the century mark with his big scoring play, finishing with 106 receiving yards on three receptions. Blake Lamb racked up 60 yards on a pair of catches. Jackson hauled in four grabs for 49 yards. Leak snagged two receptions for 36 yards out of the backfield.

Vaisen Viloria led the defensive effort with 11 total tackles. John Harman racked up nine total tackles. Chris Boden led the team with five solo tackles and one tackle for loss. De'Shayvion McRath forced one fumble.

The Tigers will conclude their regular-season slate at Ward Field when they host No. 22 Saint Francis next Saturday at noon.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu