Dominic D’Ambrosio running the ball SXU Athletics
The Saint Xavier University (SXU) football team earned a 30-0 victory over Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), improving to 3-4 on the season, with a familiar opponent approaching.
The win reflected the collective nature of the sport, with contributions coming from every position group. SXU totaled 432 yards of offense and surpassed 200 yards in both passing and rushing, a welcome change from the rest of the season.
This output marked a clear step forward for a unit that has been searching for consistency.
Three different running backs recorded 50 rushing yards or more, nine players tallied receptions, and even three quarterbacks took snaps. The multiplicity of the Cougars kept SMWC on their heels and wouldn’t allow them to settle in throughout the night.
Quarterback Blainey Dowling led the way through the air, throwing for 180 yards and a touchdown while completing 67% of his passes. Running back Jacob Fisher totaled 93 all-purpose yards, including 73 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
Depth was on display as well. Quarterback/running back Dominic D’Ambrosio added 46 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns, while redshirt freshman Kendall Netters posted a career-best 51 rushing yards and a touchdown on four carries.
The contributions weren’t just limited to the offense, with SXU posting their first shutout of the year, and the defense was as whole as the offense.
They only let up 168 yards and eight first downs, added two turnovers, and limited SMWC to 2.8 yards per play on the day—a dominating showing for an SXU defense that has had trouble containing offenses for most of the year.
This kind of effort is what the Cougars have been working towards all season.
Redshirt junior David Burton and senior captain Semaj Williams, both consistent contributors, combined for three sacks, 11 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss (TFL). Carter Wynn forced and recovered a fumble, while freshman Gavin Farley and junior Denym Sykes combined for two sacks, nine tackles and 2.5 TFL.
This is back-to-back outings in which the Cougars have subdued their opponent for 60 minutes. If they could sustain this level of play, SXU could continue this win streak as they near the final four games of the regular season.
SXU now turns its attention to longtime rival University of Saint Francis (USF). The Joliet school is a short drive from Deaton Field, where the teams will meet Saturday, Oct. 24, at noon.
USF enters the weekend at 2-5, and both programs are having down seasons. SXU holds a 26-2 edge in the series and won the most recent meeting in 2025.
Historically, the Cougars have governed this matchup year in and year out, putting into question the nature of a true rivalry between the two.
Yet the animosity between the two programs creates an atmosphere the numbers cannot fully capture. Even with only five wins between the two teams this season, players, coaches and fans are likely to treat the game as if it were their last, which is the essence of a rivalry.
On Saturday, SXU will be expected not only to perform but to handle USF.
Coming off consecutive victories and playing at home, the Cougars should be positioned to build on their momentum and extend a familiar outcome against their in-state and in-conference rival.
About Post Author
