On Saturday, October 31, the 12th ranked St. Xavier football team played at home against Olivet Nazarene University. The Cougars would dominate the second and third quarters of this game on “Senior Day” en route to a convincing win.
On the Cougars’ opening drive, the Cougars’ offense looked crisp as they dunked and dunked their way all the way down to the ONU 12 yard line. From there, star receiver/returner Stephen Simms would rush into the endzone to give the Cougars an early 7-0 lead.
On their opposition’s first drive, the Cougars’ defense would continue their success and shut down the Tigers’ offense. Later in the quarter, after another three and out forced by the Cougars’ defense, the Cougars would start their drive at the ONU 35 due to a shanked punt.
After getting down to the ONU eight yard line, it seemed inevitable that the Cougars would go up 14-0. However, on 2nd and goal from the five, quarterback John Rhode would fumble the ball and the ONU defense would return the fumble all the way for a game tying touchdown.
With the game now tied at 7-7, the Cougars’ offense would look to make up for their egregious error. However, they were unsuccessful in their first drive after the fumble and they would punt the ball to the Tigers. Once again though, a three and out followed by a bad punt would give the Cougars’ offense the ball at the ONU 35 yard line.
It looked very bleak that this drive was going to result in a touchdown after a sack led to a 3rd and 12 situation from the ONU 37. However, a huge 27 yard pass from Rhode to running back Nick Borgra would give the Cougars 1st and goal from the 10 yard line.
Two plays later, Simms would score his second rushing touchdown of the game to give the Cougars a 14-7 lead. The first quarter would end with that score still intact. In the second quarter, the Cougars would get the ball at the ONU 44 yard line after another three and out that was forced by the Cougars’ stout defense.
Once again the Cougars’ offense was forced with what seemed like an insurmountable challenge when they were faced with a 3rd and 8 from the ONU 41 yard line. Once again, Rhode would complete a big pass play, this time a 39 yard completion to wide receiver Randall Wells, to set the Cougars up with 1st and goal from the 2.
The very next play Simms would score his third touchdown of the game to extend the Cougars’ lead to 21-7. In the first half of this game, Olivet Nazarene’s offense could barely move the ball against the Cougars defense.
This allowed for the Cougars to have multiple opportunities to not only expand their lead, but also put the game out of reach. With 4:47 left in the half, the Cougars would start a drive from their own 34 yard line. The Cougars would move the ball all the way down to the ONU 1 yard line.
However, the normally sure-handed Simms would fumble the ball before he crossed the goal line and the Tigers would recover it, as the Cougars’ offense would squander a prime opportunity to put the game out of reach.
Once again though, this missed opportunity would not matter as the Cougars defense would force their seventh straight three and out and give the Cougars the ball back with 1:14 left in the half at their own 44 yard line.
On a 3rd and 5 from their own 49 yard line, Rhode would complete a huge 40 yard pass to wide receiver Ryan Carroll. A personal foul on the play would put the ball on the ONU 5. Three plays later, Rhode would run into the endzone for a two yard touchdown to put the Cougars up by the score of 27-7. A blocked extra point would prevent the score from being 28-7.
The half would end after defensive end Dimitri Joe would cap off an almost perfect for the Cougars with a sack fumble, which was then recovered by defensive tackle Nick Cemeno. The third quarter would start the same way that the first half went as the Cougars would force their eighth straight three and out and give the Cougars’ offense the ball back.
Despite the Cougars going three and out on their own offensive drive, the Cougars would force a fumble on the punt and recover it at the ONU 4 yard line. All-purpose man Dan Ladd would rush into the endzone for a touchdown to give the Cougars a commanding 34-7 lead. The Cougars would find themselves up after the third quarter by the score of 34-7.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Olivet University would score their first offensive touchdown of the game to cut their deficit to 34-14 with nine minutes left in the game. The Cougars would attempt to put together a long drive after the ONU touchdown, but were unsuccessful at doing so, forcing them to give the ball back to the Tiger’ offense.
On their second consecutive drive, the Cougars’ defense would give up a touchdown, making the game a two possession game at the score of 34-21. With just 4:16 left in the game, the Cougars’ offense would attempt to drain the clock out and seal the win.
But for the second straight drive, they would not be able to do that to the fullest extent and they would punt the ball back to the now hot ONU offense. On the ensuing drive, the Tigers would drive all the way down to the SXU 31 yard line, looking like they were about to score their third straight touchdown and make the game a one possession game.
But like they have for the entire season, the Cougars’ defense would make a huge play when they needed it as cornerback Matt Johnson would intercept an ONU pass to all but ensure victory for the Cougars.
The Cougars would take a safety in order to waste the clock, but that would not matter as the Cougars would hold on to win on “Senior Day” by the score of 34-23. With the win, the Cougars’ record now sits at 7-2 with a perfect conference record of 4-0. The Cougars will end their regular season next Saturday on the road against the 14th ranked in a pivotal conference game.
If the Cougars win next week, they will clinch the MSFA Midwest League title and a berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series.
John Romando
Senior Sports Editor
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