Dunnigan's 93-Yard Punt Return for A Touchdown with Two Minutes to Go Seals the Win for the No. 25 Tigers over the Fighting Saints

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 25 Olivet Nazarene University football defeated the Fighting Saints of University of St. Francis, 31-27, at Ward Field on Saturday.

The Tigers got off to a hot start on their first drive of the game. On a 3^rd and 3, David Hutton (SO/Brookfield, Wis.) connected with Jalen Dunnigan (JR/Jacksonville, Fla.) for 22-yards. Later in the drive, Aaje Grayson (SO/New York, N.Y) found the endzone for a five-yard touchdown rush. After Bryce DeGuira (SR/Nashville, Tenn.) hit the PAT, the Tigers took a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, the Fighting Saints found the endzone and completed a two-point conversation to go up 8-7. The Tigers kept scoring going into their next drive, which ended on a DeGuira 25-yard field goal as ONU retook the lead at 10-8. That score would hold true going into the second quarter.

At the beginning of the second quarter, The Fighting Saints tied the game at 10 on a safety. After St. Francis, went three-and-out, the Tigers picked up another score. With the drive starting on the ONU 20, Hutton hooked up with Brady Walling (SR/Meridian, Idaho) for a 26-yard gain, setting the Tigers up nicely. Later on the drive, on a 3^rd and 5, Hutton was at it again and connected with Tyler Isaacson (FR/Festus, Mo.) for a 14 yard gain which set up a five-yard touchdown pass to Dunnigan making the score 17-10. The Tigers were not done yet as they added to their lead later in the second quarter. Unlike the other drives, the run game was clicking with Grayson. On this drive, Grayson rushed for gains of 18 and 16 yards, and set up for his second rushing touchdown of the game on a six-yard scamper.

The Fighting Saints ended the half with 10 unanswered points, but the Tigers still led 24-20 going into the half. Hutton went 12-17 for 160 yards and a touchdown while on the ground, Grayson rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

Halftime: No. 25 ONU 24, USF 20

The third quarter was full of miscues, turnovers, and plenty of scoring opportunities for both teams as neither team could crack the scoring column as the two teams went into the fourth quarter with the score of 24-20. The start of the fourth quarter was much of the same as the prior quarter until St. Francis took the lead on a 52-yard touchdown pass. The Fighting Saints led 27-24. The next drive for the Tigers went three-and-out. On the ensuing Fighting Saints drive, the ONU defense held the Fighting Saints as Peyton Wuerch (JR/Indianapolis, Ind.) and Grant Manke (SO/Brownsville, Wis.) sacked the USF quarterback.

With the game on the line, Dunnigan's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown with two minutes left in the game was the deciding factor as the Tigers came back and defeated the Fighting Saints 31-27.

Game Vitals

Final: No 25 Olivet Nazarene 31, University of St. Francis 27

Records: No. 25 Olivet Nazarene 5-0 (3-0 MSFA) | University of St. Francis 0-4 (0-2 MSFA)

Location: Ward Field | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

Quick Hits

• Hutton went 18-30 205 yards and a touchdown and three interceptions
• Grayson rushed 21 times for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, marking his third straight 100-yard game.
• Dunnigan had a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown to win the game and had 6 receptions for 105 and a touchdown.
• Jason Freeman (SO/Zion, Ill.) led the Tigers with 13 total tackles while Miles VanderKlok (JR/Wheaton, Ill.) and Joe Passarelli (SO/Downers Grove, Ill.) made 6 tackles.
• Patryk Ryczek (SR/Inverness, Ill.) intercepted one pass and had four pass breakups.
• Arinze Ekowa (JR/Plainfield, Ill.), Manke, and Wuerch all had sacks.

What's Next?

The Tigers travel to Arlington Heights, Ill. to play unbeaten Roosevelt University on Saturday, March 20. Kickoff time is yet to be determined.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu