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Photo Credit: Seth Ellis
Photo Credit: Seth Ellis
Posted: Oct 30, 2021

NO. 17 TIGERS STUMBLE ON THE ROAD AT ST. FRANCIS

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JOLIET, Ill. – The No. 17 Olivet Nazarene University football team concluded their road portion of the schedule up in Joliet, Ill. against the University of St. Francis Fighting Saints at ATI Field on Saturday afternoon.  The Fighting Saints defeated the Tigers, 43-30. 

 

After the Tigers forced a turnover-on-downs on the first drive of the game, the Fighting Saints recovered a fumble on the Tigers' first play and took it to the endzone for a touchdown.  The Fighting Saints led 7-0.  The Tigers then struck back with a score of their own.  On the first play of the drive, Cameron Crouch hooked up with Brian Jenkins for a 55-yard touchdown making the score, 7-6. St. Francis then retook the lead with a seven-play drive that ended with a 13-yard rushing score.  The Fighting Saints went for two but it failed and led, 13-6.  The Fighting Saints led by that same 13-6 score going into the second quarter. 

 

The Tigers marked another touchdown to start the second quarter.  ONU went nine plays for 51 yards and ended with Evan Leake finding the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown run.  After the extra point by Andrew Ryczek, the Tigers and the Fighting Saints were tied at 13.  The game was not tied for long as the Fighting Saints converted a 65-yard reception, on their first play of the drive, for a touchdown and led, 20-13.  With about five minutes left in the first half, the Tigers deadlocked the game.  Crouch and Aaje Grayson combined for the first three carries for 36 yards.  Later in the drive, Crouch found Jenkins for a 15-yard touchdown making the score 20 all.  The two teams took that same score into the locker room. 

 

The Tigers got off to a good start in the third quarter and scored on their first possession.  The beginning of the drive was run-dominant as Grayson rushed for 42 yards on four carries.  Andrew Ryczek then kicked a 24-yard field goal to make the score, 23-20.  With about 7:30 left in the third quarter, the Fighting Saints retook the lead on a seven-play 80-yard drive which ended on a 25-yard rushing touchdown.  St. Francis led, 27-23, and led by that same score going into the final quarter of the game. 

 

In their opening drive of the fourth quarter, the Fighting Saints tallied another rushing touchdown and extended their lead to 33-23.  The Tigers used the next drive to cut into that deficit.  Leake started the drive with a 13-yard rush.  Then, on a 3rd and 10, Crouch found Scotty Graziano for a 24-yard reception.  After receptions by Leake and Tyler Isaacson, Crouch connected with Jalen Dunnigan for a 9-yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead to, 33-30. 

 

After the Fighting Saints made a field goal on their next possession, the Tigers had a chance to win the game.  After Lucas Eckles returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards, ONU had good field possession.  On a 2nd and 6 on the ONU 31, Crouch completed a 39-yard pitch-and-catch to Graziano putting the ball on the USF-21.  Unfortunately, the drive stalled as the Fighting Saints picked off Crouch with about a minute left in the game. 

 

The Fighting Saints marked a late touchdown as they went on to down the Tigers, 43-30. 

 

GAME VITALS

Final: St. Francis 43, No. 17 Olivet Nazarene 30

Records: St. Francis: 4-2 (4-0 MSFA) | No. 17 Olivet Nazarene: 5-3 (3-2 MSFA)

Location: ATI Field | University of St. Francis | Joliet, Ill.

 

QUICK HITS

  • Crouch went 21-for-36 for 289 yards and three touchdowns and three interceptions.
  • Grayson led the Tigers with 98 yards on the ground. 
  • Jenkins led the Tigers with six receptions for 106 yards and a couple of touchdowns. 
  • Graziano and Isaacson followed with 72 and 65 yards, respectively. 
  • Andrew Ryczek made a field goal, three extra points, punted the ball four time for 166 yards, and tallied six kickoffs for 307 yards. 
  • Ryczek pinned the Fighting Saints inside the 20 three times and amassed a pair of touchbacks. 
  • Jason Freeman led the Tigers with 14 tackles and a tackle-for-loss. 
  • Brayden Cook marked a career-high 12 tackles, had one sack, and two tackles-for-loss. 
  • Joshua Mathiasen followed with 10 tackles. 
  • The Tigers marked 456 yards of total offense.  

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The No. 17 Tigers return to Ward Field to host the Trojans of Trinity International University on Saturday November 6th at 1 p.m.

 

--ONU—

 

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