The Saint Xavier University Cougars came into the 2012 season ranked number one in the nation after winning the NAIA National title a season ago in Rome, Georgia. The Cougars are looking to return to Rome this season and the first obstacle in their way this season was the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers.
On Saturday, September 1, the Cougars traveled down to Bourbonnais, Illinois to take on the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers. Last season the Cougars played the Tigers at home to open up the season and they won that game 55-10, and they looked for the same result to open up the 2012 campaign.
The Cougars offense came out of the gate slow, registering only one first down on their first two drives. But the Cougars offense ended up finding their groove before the first quarter of play was over, with a little over nine minutes left to play in the first quarter Jimmy Coy hit Shane Zackery with a sixty-four yard touchdown pass to open up the scoring. After Olivet answered back with a field goal of their own to cut the Cougar lead to four points, Coy once again hooked up with Zackery this time on a twenty-two yard pitch and catch as time expired in the first quarter to put the Cougars up 14-3.
The Cougar defense forced the Tigers to go three and out on their first possession of the second quarter. On the Cougars first offensive possession of the second quarter Coy orchestrated an eleven play, seventy-five yard scoring drive capped off by a Nick DeBenedetti twelve-yard touchdown reception.
The Cougar defense continued to stand strong on the Tigers next offensive possession forcing another three and out and Tiger punt. After starting their drive with great field position the Cougars drove down the field fifty yards on ten plays for their fourth touchdown of the day and they extended their lead to 28-3. The Tigers would later add another field goal to end the first half of play and at the half the Cougar lead was twenty-two points.
The third quarter of play only registered one scoring play, Coy’s fifth touchdown pass of the night this one a thirty-two yard pass to Wes Gastel. The following point after attempt failed but the Cougar lead bloomed to twenty-eight points.
The Cougars second string offense came into the game halfway through the fourth quarter and registered one touchdown. After throwing an interception which was returned for a touchdown on his first series of the game, Joe Gill came back strong on his second series and threw a thirty-three yard pass to DeBenedetti resulting in a touchdown. The Cougars went on to win the game by a final score of 41-12.
The Cougars return to Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field next Saturday, September 8 for their first home game of the season against the number seven ranked team in the nation, University of St. Francis Illinois. If you are not able to attend the game WXAV 88.3FM and wxav.com will have full coverage of the game starting at 5:30pm.
Come on out and support your Cougars as they look to continue their title defense in the second game of the regular season.