SHU Football Earns First MSFA Mideast Win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Siena Heights football team earned its first Mid-States Football Association Mideast League win with a 31-14 decision over Concordia on Saturday at Riverbank Stadium.

Quarterbacks Matt King (Rockville, Ind./Rockville) and Travis Zajkowski (Morley, Mich./Morley-Stanwood) combined for three touchdown passes, including two to tight end Lyle VanFleteren (Armada, Mich./De La Salle) as the Saints outscored the Cardinals, 31-7, after giving up the game's first score.

King was 6 of 13 for 79 yards and one TD before Zajkowski took over in the second half with a 7-of-14, 94-yard performance. Zajkowski threw for two touchdowns.

Also for the SHU offense, running back Julius Taylor Jr. (Taylor, Mich./John F. Kennedy) had 23 carries for 107 yards and three receptions for 14 yards while running back/wide receiver Raphael Dunson (Taylor, Mich./John F. Kennedy) finished with three catches for 48 yards and six carries for 45 yards and one TD.

Defensively, linebacker Trent Bragg (Lansing, Mich./Frederick Douglass) made 4 1/2 tackles and forced one fumble. Defensive lineman Robert Becker (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger) also had a forced fumble while linebacker Derek J. Head (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) recovered one.

Linebacker Tyler Karcher (Middleville, Mich./Thornapple-Kellogg) added 2 1/2 tackles-for-loss and an interception and defensive back DeShawn Gilbert (Detroit, Mich./Clawson) was credited with two pass breakups.

On the game's second play from scrimmage, Concordia wide receiver Kelvin Woods rushed for a 62-yard touchdown and, just like that, the Saint trailed 47 seconds in.

The Saints finally answered late in the first quarter with a seven-play, 63-yard drive. Running back Drew Milligan (Hudson, Mich./Hudson) put the team in position with an 18-yard reception and 10-yard run before Dunson scampered to paydirt from nine yards out.

SHU took the lead with 9:56 left in the second when King found VanFleteren for a 16-yard score. A 20-yard field goal by Jonah Harter (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Otsego) extended the visitors' lead to 17-7 before intermission.

The Cardinals (0-3) looked poised to threaten late when quarterback Tyler Steele threw to Woods for a 39-yard touchdown, helping Concordia trim its deficit to 17-14, but the Saints ran off the final 14 points.

A six-yard touchdown reception by VanFleteren capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive for the Saints as SHU grabbed a 24-14 advantage. The score was Zajkowski's first collegiate touchdown pass.

Concordia then went three-and-out and then failed on a fake-punt attempt. Two players later, Zajkowski tossed a 28-yard score to Reggie Blackmon (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snider) and the Saints went up, 31-14, with 12:19 left in the game.

After a bye week, the Saints (2-2, 1-1) will return to action with a 6 p.m. home contest against Taylor (Ind.).