2014 SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
Siena Heights Saints (1-2, 0-0 MSFA Mideast) vs
Saint Francis Cougars (2-2, 0-0 MSFA Mideast)
Saturday, Oct. 4 - 1 p.m. - Fort Wayne, Ind.
Live Coverage: Eric Iden (play-by-play), Siena Heights Sports Network (SHUSAINTS.COM); WLEN 103.9 FM
For a complete version of game notes, click HERE.
THE GAME
The Siena Heights football team will play its second road game of the 2014 regular season when it visits 15th-ranked Saint Francis (Ind.) on Oct. 4 during the Cougars' Homecoming Weekend. The contest is a Mid-States Football Association Mideast League opener for both squads.
THE SERIES
This is the third meeting between SHU and Saint Francis (Ind.). The Cougars have won both previous contests.
On Oct. 27, 2012, the seventh-ranked Cougars defeated Siena Heights, 31-7. The following year, on Oct. 5, 2013, sixth-ranked USF defeated No. 25 SHU by a 28-17 final.
THE COACHES
Jim Lyall (Michigan '74) is in his fourth season as head coach for Siena Heights, where he now has a 10-13 varsity record. He is 114-105-1 all-time as a collegiate varsity football coach. During SHU's 2011 club season, Lyall went 8-1. He was previously the head coach at Adrian, where he compiled a 103-92-1 varsity slate.
Kevin Donley (Anderson, Ind. '73) is in his 17th year as head coach for Saint Francis. He is 274-124-1 all-time as a 36-year collegiate varsity football coach, including a 160-39 mark for the Cougars. He ranks 14th all-time in wins as a collegiate coach while ranking second among active coaches behind Ken Sparks of Carson-Newman, Texas (321).
Donley was named 2004 and 1991 NAIA Coach of the Year. Prior to becoming USF's head coach, he was head coach for Anderson, Ind. (1976-81), Georgetown, Ky. (1982-92) and California, Pa. (1993-96).
FOLLOW THE MARCH
All Siena Heights football games will be webcast on the Siena Heights Sports Network, which can be accessed via the Stretch Internet link on WWW.SHUSAINTS.COM. Live stats can be followed online at WWW.SHUSAINTS.COM.
SHSN will provide live video for each Saint home game. Play-by-play will be called by Eric Iden while Doug Goodnough will provide color commentary. Games will be archived in Stretch's on-demand feature.
SHSN and WLEN 103.9 FM have also enjoyed a four-year partnership. All games will be audio-streamed online at WLEN.COM while select games will be broadcasted live on the radio.
The Buckeye Cable Sports Network will also be on hand for three SHU home games in 2014 -- an agreement which began with the Saints' matchup against Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) last week. BCSN will return to O'Laughlin for Siena Heights' games against Taylor, Ind. (Oct. 25) and Robert Morris, Ill. (Nov. 8).
NEXT UP
The Saints, whose final four road trips feature currently-ranked teams, will make their second trip to Indiana in as many weeks with a visit to Marian in Indianapolis. The game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
The 19th-ranked Knights have won 2 of 3 contests to open their season, including a 31-18 victory over defending national champ Grand View (Iowa) on Sept. 20. Marian, which won the 2012 NAIA championship, will visit 12th-ranked Robert Morris (Ill.) on Saturday.
LAST TIME WE MET - SAINT FRANCIS (IND.) AT SIENA HEIGHTS - 10/05/13
After taking a halftime lead, the 25th-ranked Saints struggled during the final 30 minutes and dropped a 28-17 decision to No. 6 Saint Francis (Ind.).
The Saints went ahead, 17-14, as time expired on the first half as kicker Victor Bodrie connected for a 34-yard field goal. From there, the visiting Cougars scored the game's final 14 points.
Linebackers Trent Bragg and Tyler Karcher led the SHU defense with 15 and 14 total tackles, respectively, while Sederick Dunbar II made an interception.
On offense, quarterback Matt King completed 19 of 27 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Wide receiver Reggie Blackmon added five receptions for 70 yards while tight end Donovan Campbell had five catches for 65 yards and a score.
In the running game, Ja'Tice Shaw II had 13 carries for 59 yards and a TD while fellow running back Travis Damron rushed 17 times for 53 yards.
SHU scored all 17 of its points during the second quarter, including back-to-back touchdowns to help itself to a 14-7 lead.
In the second half, the Saints found themselves in USF territory on two occasions, but could not come away with any points. One drive ended when SHU was stopped on fourth-and-1. Another march came up empty when it stopped on a fumble.
USF quarterback Yoder was 29 of 42 for 250 yards. He completed passes to 11 different receivers. Running back Garrett Harvey had 25 carries for 79 yards.
For the Saint Francis defense, safety Erick Humphrey had 11 total tackles while inside linebacker Kyle Mathewson made nine stops; both had fumble recoveries. Defensive lineman Zach Bruce added a sack and cornerback Tracy Hathaway had an interception.
Statistically, the teams were evenly matched. USF outgained the Saints, 374-363, with SHU winning the ground battle (140-117) and the Cougars taking the air battle (257-223). The Saints committed three turnovers to USF's one.
SAINTS' LAST TIME OUT - OLIVET NAZARENE AT SIENA HEIGHTS - 09/27/14
Defensive linemen Kyle Connors and C.J. Marious combined for five sacks while running back Travis Damron scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:14 remaining as the Saints claimed a 7-0 non-conference victory over Olivet Nazarene (Ill.).
Connors had eight total tackles, including three sackes. He totaled 6 1/2 tackles for loss. Marious finished with six total tackles, including two sacks (two TFLs).
Linebacker Trent Bragg added 1 1/2 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble for the SHU defense, which recorded its second shutout of ONU in as many years. The Saints defeated the Tigers, 14-0, on Sept. 28, 2013.
Damron's one-yard game-winning score finished off a nine-play, 72-yard drive. During the drive, quarterback Travis Zajkowski hooked up with running back Julius Taylor Jr. on a 60-yard pass play.
On ONU's final drive, Marious and Connors combined on a sack on fourth-and-5 to end the visitors' hopes.
Zajkowski completed 21 of 32 passes for 246 yards and one interception. He also had five carries for 46 yards.
Through the air, wide receiver Reggie Blackmon caught seven passes for 69 yards. Fellow wide receiver Raphael Dunson made six catches for 42 yards. Running back Dont'e Fox was the Saints' leading rusher, finishing with 11 runs for 53 yards.
COUGARS' LAST TIME OUT - GRAND VIEW AT SAINT FRANCIS (IND.) - 09/27/14
Ninth-ranked Saint Francis (Ind.) managed only three field goals while defending NAIA champ Grand View (Iowa) had three touchdown plays of 50-or-more yards as the eighth-ranked Vikings claimed a 21-9 victory.
Running back Antoin Campbell had 104 all-purpose yards to lead the USF offense, finishing with 21 carries for 78 yards and three receptions for 26 yards.
Also for Saint Francis, quarterback Nick Ferrer was 23 of 45 for 203 yards and three interceptions. Wide receiver Cameron Smith compiled seven catches for 73 yards.
On defense, linebacker Kyle Mathewson finished with 10 total tackles, including two sacks, and a forced fumble. Lineman Joey Dynako also had two sacks while fellow DL Zach Bruce added a forced fumble and sack.
Linebacker Mike Brevard had a fumble recovery while linebacker Koree Terrell and defensive back Cale Tabler recorded interceptions.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
With their 2-2 record, the Cougars are off the one of the slowest starts in their 17-year history. Under nine-time MSFA Mideast Coach of the Year Kevin Donley, the Cougars have been 4-0 nine times and 3-1 on five other occasions during a 14-year stretch. USF's 2-2 start is its first .500 start through four games since 1999; its worst four-game opening occurred in 1998 -- the Cougars' inaugural year.
USF returns one of its three All-America honorees from a year ago. Cornerback Kory Stamps was named to the Second team in 2013. He currently had 19 total tackles in 2014.
Stamps is one of five returning Cougars that have earned All-MSFA Mideast First Team accolades. He and running back Antoin Campbell are two-time First Team honorees. Campbell is USF's leading rusher with 66 carries for 322 yards and two touchdowns.
Other returning First Team performers include wide receiver Cameron Smith, defensive end Zach Bruce and outside linebacker Keith Harris. So far in 2014, Smith has 24 catches for 308 yards and two TDs; Bruce has 17 total tackles, including four sacks; and Harris has an interception.
Two other Second Team players from a year ago also returned for the Cougars: offensive lineman Kegan Morris, who lines up at left tackle, and inside linebacker Kyle Mathewson, who leads the squad with 41 total tackles.
At quarterback, Nick Ferrer is expected to start against SHU, although fellow QB Wesley Hunsucker has also seen time under center in 2014. Ferrer is 56 of 105 for 608 yards, five TDs and four INTs. Wide receivers Akiem Kelsaw and Seth Coate have three and two TD receptions, respectively.
On defense, defensive lineman Joey Dynako has 29 total tackles, including 3 1/2 for loss (1 1/2 sacks). He, Bruce, Harris and Mathewson are leaders on a defense which ranks fourth in the NAIA in sacks per game (3.8), fifth in total sacks (15), sixth in passing defense (131.0) and tied for 10th in scoring defense (18.0).
Individually, Bruce is tied for eighth in the NAIA in both sacks per game (1.0) and total sacks (4).
The Cougars rank in the Top 10 in one offensive category: third down conversions. They are 33 of 64 (51.6 percent).
As a program, Saint Francis continues to make its mark on the national stage. The Cougars appeared in the NAIA Tournament quarterfinals last year before falling to eventual finalist, Cumberlands (Ky.), 28-14. In the first 16 years of the program's existence, Saint Francis qualified for 14 NAIA Tournaments and has played in three national title games (2004-06). USF has advanced to the quarterfinals the past four seasons.
ENDING THE STREAK
Prior to last week's 7-0 win over Olivet Nazarene, Siena Heights had forced a turnover in 22 consecutive games, which encompassed the entire SHU varsity era.
That streak is now over -- though the Saints did have opportunities. ONU fumbled four times during SHU's Homecoming, but Saint defenders were unable to recover.
The Saints have recorded interceptions in 19 of their 23 varsity contests, including going 10 of 12 at home. The only home contests in which the SHU defense did not record an INT came against Saint Joseph's and ONU in 2014.
THE DREAD ZONE
The red zone has not been kind to the Saints on either side of the football in 2014; both offense and defense have struggled to match previous years' performances.
Heading into 2014, the SHU offense was 52 of 74 in the red zone (70.3 percent), but through three games this season, it is 2 of 10 (20.0 percent). Three interceptions, two turnovers-on-downs, two field-goal misses, and one fumble account for the eight failures inside the red zone.
The Siena Heights defense is allowing a 75-percent success rate to opponents inside the red zone (6 of 8) after allowing a clip of 70.7 percent (41 of 58) the previous two years. The Saints forced a fumble and interception during their season-opening 12-0 loss to Virginia Union.
TWO-MAN WRECKING CREW
Against Olivet Nazarene, the performances of defensive linemen Kyle Connors and C.J. Marious led to an assault on the SHU record books. Connors had three sacks to break the single-game record while Marious tied the previous record of two. Joseph John Mravec IV held the mark previously with two sacks during Siena Heights' 26-19 double-overtime win over Robert Morris, Ill, on Aug. 25, 2012.
Connors also shattered the single-game record for tackles-for-loss, finishing with 6 1/2. He also has the single-season record -- just three games into the 2014 campaign -- with 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Connors previously shared the TFL game record with former linebacker Derek Head; Connors had three TFLs in the Saints' 2014 season-opener against Virginia Union and Head had three TFLs in SHU's 20-14 loss to Olivet Nazarene on Oct. 6, 2012.
As a team, the Saints had 13 tackles-for-loss against Olivet Nazarene, breaking the defensive unit's previous mark of 12, which occurred in a 44-3 win against Concordia on Oct. 19, 2013.
The defense's five sacks also were a new single-game record. The previous mark of four was done twice: during the opener against VUU and during the 2012 contest against Robert Morris.
ONE-EIGHTHS
A pair of 1-7 records -- one regarding ranked opponents and another regarding the month of October -- will come into play when the Saints visit Saint Francis (Ind.).
SHU is 1-7 all-time against NAIA-ranked opponents. During their first varsity year, the Saints went 0-4 and were outscored, 144-42, before showing significant improvement against ranked teams in 2013.
Last year, Siena Heights led three different ranked squads at halftime, but ended up losing each contest, which also serve as SHU's only three varsity losses after leading at intermission. Ironically, the Saints ended their season with a 22-21 victory over 24th-ranked Robert Morris (Ill.) after trailing at the break.
The month of October has not been kind to the Saints itself as SHU has gone 1-7 during the calendar's 10th month. The lone win is a 44-3 decision over Concordia on Oct. 19, 2013.
TURNING IT OVER
Turnovers have been a major reason for the Saints' lack of offensive production in 2014, especially with their two losses coming against evenly-matched opponents.
SHU wasn't incredibly outgained by both Virginia Union (332-304) and Saint Joseph's, Ind. (334-302), but a minus-2 and minus-3 turnover ratio, respectively, played a major hand in the struggles.
Through three games, the Saints have a minus-7 turnover ratio. In their previous seasons, they were plus-8 in 2012 and plus-7 in 2013.
