Senior Linebacker Terry Elias Jr. Engaging in Onfield Play SXU Athletics
The Cougars started the 2025 season in a way they never wanted to, in a loss. This past Saturday, Saint Xavier (SXU) matched up against the No. 6 ranked Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and they got dismantled with a 31-3 beatdown.
The Cougars failed to score a single touchdown in the game, only scoring one field goal in the first quarter which was done by freshmen kicker Christian Casillas.
There was no string of luck for the Cougars as IWU went on a scoring rampage, accumulating 17 points in the second quarter and 14 in the third quarter. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter, but the job was already done for IWU and the scoreless quarter wouldn’t benefit the Cougars.
The Cougars were only able to get a total of 15 first downs, 106 passing yards, and a total of 189 yards, compared to IWU’s 29 first downs, 355 passing yards, and an overall total of 432 yards. The only statistical category the Cougars won in is the rushing yards. Gaining a total of 83 rushing yards compared to IWU’s 77.
Senior quarterback Dominic D’Ambrosio struggled in his debut as QB1 as he only threw for 103 yards and completed nine passes out of his 25 attempts. D’Ambrosio also threw two picks in the matchup which led to him eventually being benched in the fourth quarter.
The receivers combined for a total of 10 catches, with fifth-year senior wide receiver Ronnie Foster hauling in two receptions for 39 yards.
Senior wide receiver Marquel Porter tied for the most receptions in this game hauling in three catches for 29 yards.
Player-turned coach Joe Polselli has been put in charge of SXU’s wide receiver room as he is the official wide receivers coach for SXU this season. I had a chance to speak with him about how he was able to go from a player on the team to sitting on the sideline as a coach and how he was able to adjust.
“It’s fun. I enjoy helping out the guys and being around the sport I love. Learning how to become a coach and not being a player anymore is difficult because I played with most of the guys on the team so getting out of the habits and routine as a player was the only adjustment I had to make.”
The wide receiver coaching staff continued to change as they brought in coach Kevin Leifker who was formally the running backs coach. He seems very excited and confident in his group of receivers and believes the young guys have a bright future.
“Me, Coach Yanule and Joe are working well with the wide receivers. They are a great and hard working group. I am very excited to continue to learn with them and watch them develop day by day.”
The young guys aren’t off to a bad start as redshirt freshmen wide receiver Kameron Hopkins caught three passes for 23 yards, tying his amount of receptions with Porter.
Transferring from Quincy University, sophomore wide receiver Stephon Gist Jr. made his debut for SXU hauling in two receptions for 15 yards. Gist also returned three kickoffs for 47 yards.
Senior running back Tyreese Lee had a team high 13 carries for 45 rushing yards.
Freshman running back Kendall Netters made his collegiate debut and showed solid play, Netters had four carries for 11 yards.
The defense had a solid display as there were many tackles made, interceptions, and a forced fumble.
Senior linebacker Terry Elias Jr. finished with a game high 14 assisted tackles. This is the second-highest total in a game for Elias, also making it the 11th time in his collegiate career that he made 10 or more tackles in a game.
Redshirt junior defensive back Alex Art tied for the second most tackles, getting a total of eight tackles. Five of those tackles were assisted and three of the tackles were solo.
Senior linebacker Chris Swayne tied with Art, getting eight tackles of his own. Six of those tackles were assisted, while the other two were solo.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Cam Manney made seven tackles with two of them being solo. Manney also recorded two pass breakups and intercepted a pass early in the first quarter.
Junior defensive back Taj McClellan also got seven tackles with four pass breakups. McClellan also recorded one interception, picking off a pass midway through the fourth quarter.
The Cougars look to bounce back in their home opener as they’ll take on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater next Saturday Sep. 12 at 1:00 pm.