It was worth the price of admission on Saturday, September 3 at the Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field, as number 10 ranked Saint Xavier University opened conference play against number 14 Saint Francis. The difference was Mike Ivlow’s four-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter.
The Cougars were met by a strong Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) opponent after falling to the number 1 overall team in the country, Marian University, a week prior. Saint Xavier needed just about every second to capture its first win of the 2016 season.
This contest did not lack big plays, as senior Stephen Simms returned a 73 yard punt for a touchdown, which put the Cougars up 21-7 early in the second quarter. Saint Francis responded with a 59 yard touchdown pass as halftime approached to cut the lead to one score.
After stopping the Fighting Saints in their opening second-half possession, Saint Xavier’s senior quarterback John Rhode and junior running back Mike Ivlow trudged the Cougars 81 yards downfield. The seven play drive ended with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Stephen Simms to senior wide out Dan Ladd to increase the lead to 28-14.
It looked as though the Cougars would put the game out of reach with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter. Saint Xavier manufactured a 13 play, 66 yard drive into Saint Francis Territory that ate nearly nine minutes off the clock.
With momentum clearly on the side of Saint Xavier, Cougars’ kicker, Abdul Mahdi, lined up for a 28 yard field goal after the Fighting Saints’ defense made a much needed stand. Mahdi’s field goal attempt was blocked, and Saint Francis suddenly saw the winds shift in their favor.
After exchanging touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Saint Xavier led Saint Francis 35-28, with 10:25 left in regulation. The Cougars stalled on their next two offensive possessions and left the door open for a Fighting Saints comeback.
Starting at their own 23 yard line, Saint Francis drove 77 yards in eight plays and tied the game at 35, with 2:49 remaining. It was time for quarterback John Rhode to step up.
The senior play-caller refused to let this game slip through his fingers as he responded with a 29 yard completion to Stephen Simms on the first play of the following possession. Now in Fighting Saints territory, the Cougars manipulated the clock and pushed closer to the end zone.
Freshman running back, Jamarri Watson, had a big 20 yard carry to put the Cougars 11 yards away from a score. Ivlow finished the job by punching it in, and putting Saint Xavier up for good.
Ivlow’s night completed with 101 yards on 19 carries, while Watson finished with 35 total yards. John Rhode was 21-40 for 313 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Saint Xavier’s offensive line bounced back after allowing eight sacks to Marian last week, with only one allowed against Saint Francis.
Nine of Rhode’s 21 pass completions went to senior wide receiver Dan Ladd, who totaled 160 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive performance. Simms finished with 6 catches for 78 yards and two total touchdowns. Simms also finished with a game high 293 all-purpose yards.
The Cougars put together an impressive 42-35 win in its home opener and first conference matchup of the season. Saint Xavier will be home against non-conference foe Ave Maria University on Saturday, September 10 at 12:00pm.
Mike Rankin
Senior Sports Editor