Written By: Drake Hayes
Our Saint Xavier Football team has kicked off this season with a 1-2 record. Both losses have been blowouts by more than twenty-one points against the University of Indianapolis (57-0) and Saint Thomas University (31-10). The win was a close call against Siena Heights (24-21).
When the season first kicked off, expectations were high, but those expectations were quickly dismissed with game one. SXU’s offense only totaled 77 yards to U-Indy’s 432 offensive yards.
On the Defensive side, they gave up an 88-yard touchdown run to Toriano Clinton, who finished the game with 12 rushes, 151 yards, and a touchdown. Despite the tribulations SXU faced that day, they still remained eager to win the next game,
“I will give it my all even if my body doesn’t allow me to,” Ayobami Orokoyo, a Junior Defensive Lineman, said.
The first home game of the 2022-2023 was during Week 2, the Cougars hosted Saint Thomas University (FL) at Deaton Field.
The game started off promising with a field goal from 22 yards in the first quarter from kicker Peyton Benes.
In the third quarter, Junior Quarterback, Stuart Ross threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Senior Wide Receiver, Justin Pringle, giving the Cougars a 17-10 lead.
Although that was the only offense SXU would produce for the rest of the game and ended with a 31-10.
Following the loss, Pringle said, “Honestly, I think their offense didn’t come to play enough to get the results they needed. Even though our offense had success their defense kept them in the game”.
Week 3 brought Siena Heights to Deaton Field and the Cougars hoped to right the ship and bring home a win.
Siena Heights scored the first points in the game with a 30 yard touchdown pass followed by an extra point. But the Cougars instantly responded with a rushing touchdown from Ross and an extra point from Benes to tie the game at seven.
A big turning point in the game was a pick six by Junior Cornerback, Kevin Countryman. Countryman ran it back for 69 yards and celebrated with a Marshawn Lynch- style dive into the endzone, giving the Cougars a 17-7 lead.
Although the play got flagged, it was definitely a nail in the coffin for Siena.
In the 3rd quarter, on a 4th and inches, the Cougars came out in a heavy formation and ran a play-action pass for a 23-yard touchdown pass from Ross, to Junior Wide Receiver, Joe Polselli. Making the score 24-7.
Siena did not go out easy though, they came back late in the fourth quarter with 2 scores, only needing a field goal to tie.
A huge play came from Junior Wide Receiver, Kyle Quinn, when he recovered an onside kick at the SXU 38 yard line which was immediately followed with a kneel from Ross.
The Cougars picked up their first win after a hard fought battle against SHU . It was a statement win for our SXU football team, as the older players continue to set an example for the younger players.
Pringle also went on to say, “I think everyone, especially the younger guys, have higher expectations for the season. I say that because as a senior on the team, I’ve played a couple seasons when we played a couple seasons where we started slow and still did what was needed to make the playoffs”.
But no matter how much adversity our SXU football team may face on and off the field they are always together.
“Outside the field we are always together, and always check up on each other no matter what”, Arokoyo said.
The Cougars play their next game in Fort Wayne, Indiana against the University of Saint Francis (IN). Kickoff is scheduled for 5pm.
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