Junior linebacker Chris Swayne Running With the Ball After Picking off a Pass SXU Athletics
The Cougars knew how important it was to bounce back after a loss, and did exactly that after annihilating the Defiance University Yellow Jackets with a final score of 45-14.
The Cougars took an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed during the game. Defense came through as Defiance wasn’t able to score during the second half. Defiance came close to securing the lead a few times in the first half, when the scoreboard reached 10-7 in the first quarter, but were ultimately shut down.
The defense was able to limit the Yellow Jackets to 99 rushing yards and overall limited their offense to 248 yards.
With the defense playing a major role in this win, the main star defender of this game is junior linebacker Chris Swayne. Swayne came up with a total of two interceptions this game, one of those picks were returned for a 44 yard touchdown. Swayne also assisted with four tackles.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Stuart Ross was highly efficient in the match, as he completed 18 of his 20 passes for 134 yards and threw two touchdowns. Ross also scored his first rushing touchdown of the season while also recording four carries for 24 yards.
Junior quarterback Dominic D’Ambrosio completed four of his nine passes for 43 yards. He came up with a team-high 62 rushing yards on eight attempts with a long of 19 yards.
Fifth-year junior wide receiver Kyle Quinn scored the first touchdown of the game and caught the five-yard touchdown pass and put the Cougars up 7-0.
Quinn tied with senior running back Jessi Plunkett for the game high five receptions for 14 yards, Plunkett caught five passes for 26 yards. Plunkett also recorded eight carries for 41 yards.
Junior wide receiver Ronnie Foster also joined the touchdown party as he scored a 66 yard touchdown in the third quarter to put the Cougars up 38-14. Foster recorded a total of four receptions for 95 yards in this game.
Graduate student Peyton Benes performed well in this game as he was on point for every field goal he kicked. Benes went 6-6 on PATs, and he drilled a 30 yard field goal in the first quarter to put the Cougars up 10-0.
Junior linebacker Terry Elias Jr. finished the game with a total of six tackles with two of them being solo, and 0.5 tackles for loss. Elias Jr. also picked off a pass in the third quarter, giving the ball back to the Cougars.
Graduate student linebacker Ryan Fitzgerald played well as he recorded four carries for 12 yards and scored a touchdown. On the defensive side, Fitzgerald had a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry, and assisted in a tackle.
Senior defensive back Nick Shultz finished with a game high seven tackles with five of them being solo.
Freshman defensive back Zach Norred assisted in one tackle, but just like Elias Jr, he picked off a pass which returned 23 yards.
Fifth-year senior Ayobami Arokoyo recorded a total of four tackles with three of them being solo, he also recorded 1.0 sacks for 11 yards.
To conclude the game, junior running back Tyreese Lee scored his first collegiate touchdown late in the fourth quarter with six minutes and 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Lee only recorded one reception in this game, but rushed for 12 yards to score the touchdown. Lee also recorded five carries for 26 yards.
The Cougars showed us how powerful and capable they are of bringing home the winning match, as this game has improved their record to 4-2 and look to go 5-2 for the homecoming game.
Homecoming is the season for football as all students and staff show their support at Cougars’ upcoming games as players play their best shows.
If you’re looking for a good time this weekend, you can look forward to the homecoming game where the Cougars will seek their fifth win of the season. They will play against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Oct. 19, and the game starts at 12:00 p.m.
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