SXU Players Attempting to Tackle Opponent SXU Athletics
After kicking off the season with a great win, the Cougars played their first home game of the season. However, things didn’t go their way.
Saint Xavier University (SXU) took a tough loss against St. Thomas University (STU) with a final score of 33-14. The Cougars struggled to get the offense going as St. Thomas took advantage and controlled the entire game.
Taking an early six to nothing lead in the first quarter, St. Thomas never looked back and made sure that SXU would never take the lead back in the game.
As much as the game headed into a direction the Cougars didn’t want, there were still some good highlights made by the players. The cougars performed to the best of their abilities and gave it their all.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Stuart Ross hit a milestone in his collegiate career as he completed 16 passes in the first half, making him the all-time leader in completed passes for the Cougars.
Ross finished the game with 238 passing yards on 26-46 throwing. He also threw two touchdowns and an interception.
Ross ended up finishing the game with 10 more completed passes, adding to his ultimate career total of 744 passes. He passed former Cougar, John Rhode, who now sits at 733 completed passes.
Junior wide receiver Ronnie Foster hauled in the most receptions in the game going for eight receptions. Foster went for 50 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Senior running back Jessi Plunkett rushed nine times for 54 yards with a long gain of 17.
Fifth-year senior wide receiver/punter Joe Polselli punted four times for 114 yards, landing two punts inside the 20, with a long of 56 yards. He also caught four passes for 24 yards.
Graduate student linebacker Ryan Fitzgerald posted eight tackles (three solos).
Junior linebacker Chris Swayne was very helpful to the defense, as he was a part of seven stops. Despite not recording a solo tackle for the game, he assisted in seven tackles showing up for his guys.
Freshman defensive back Zach Norred made his first collegiate start and went ahead to collect six tackles (three solos) and get a forced fumble.
Junior defensive lineman Justin Yeazell got five assisted tackles (one solo) with a fumble recovery, pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Yeazell made sure to make a defensive impact in this game, and he succeeded.
Graduate student wide receiver Julian Smith also had a decent game, as he hauled in five receptions for 51 yards. He continued to put in more effort adding three kick returns for 95 yards, two carries for 13 yards and two punt returns for eight yards.
For our defensive stars of the game, junior linebacker Terry Elias Jr. recorded a game-high 14 tackles (five solos) with 1.0 tackle for loss for two yards.
The second star senior defensive back Nick Schultz added 11 tackles (eight solos) to the game and a fumble recovery.
This loss wasn’t very easy for the Cougars to take, letting STU score 21 points in the second quarter, and going scoreless in the third quarter definitely didn’t help the Cougars.
Everyone showed up in the best way they can, but it just wasn’t enough. They are looking to be more aggressive in the next game and improve their defense.
The Cougars’ main goal is to bounce back this Saturday, as they take on Madonna University (Mich). The game kicks off at 12:00 p.m, and the Cougars will be traveling to Michigan to play at Livonia Franklin High School.