BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – After playing in a game that featured 85 total points the week prior, the defense and special teams units of the Olivet Nazarene University football team shined in a 21-6 homecoming victory over Saint Xavier Saturday afternoon at Ward Field.
The ONU defense limited the Cougars, who peaked as high as No. 8 in the NAIA Football GoRout Top 25 rankings earlier this season, to just 170 yards of total offense while forcing four turnovers. The Tiger special teams unit also made several big plays, including a pair of blocked kicks.
After a Brock Deardorff interception gave the Tigers excellent starting field position, quarterback Jack Miller quickly marched the offense down the field thanks to a 39-yard pitch-and-catch to Christian Warren to get inside the endzone. Evan Leak punched in the score a few plays later to give the Purple & Yellow Gold the early lead.
A busted play allowed Saint Xavier (4-4, 0-2 MSFA) to strike back for a 37-yard touchdown, but Kyle Taylor wheeled around the line to block the extra-point try and maintain the ONU lead.
The special teams unit wasn’t done there. After the Tiger defense forced an SXU punt inside their 10-yard line, Keshawn Huguely flew through to block the punt to give ONU great field possession. And a few drives later, the special teams stuffed the Cougars on a fake punt attempt. Miller made quick work of the short field, scampering nine yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a two-score advantage at halftime.
The Tiger defense was lights out in the second half, as well, leaving Saint Xavier off the scoreboard over the final two quarters. Leake scored his second touchdown of the game with a one-yard dive midway through the fourth for an insurance score as the Purple & Yellow Gold cruised to the 21-6 conference victory.
Miller finished the day going 22-of-37 through the air for 252 passing yards. His favorite targets were Brandon Jackson and Ray Coffey, with the former notching four catches for a game-high 90 yards while the latter led the contest with seven receptions for 76 yards.
Leake led the rushing attack with 65 yards on 14 attempts and the two scores. Aaron Bennett toted the ball 13 times for 40 yards. Keshawn Huguely added 10 yards on his six attempts.
Abe Flores-Cuen had a massive day on the gridiron, racking up a team-leading 13 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. Joe Fugle added six tackles, two for loss, and a forced fumble. Lucas Eckles and Deardorff both snagged an interception.
ONU (4-3, 1-1 MSFA) will look to build off the conference victory when they travel to Judson next Saturday.
–ONU—
*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu
