Adrian, MI – Both Siena Heights University and Adrian College football teams were in action this Saturday at their home stadiums against their rivals.
At SHU, the Saints (2-3, 1-0 MSFA) were battling (RV) Concordia (2-3, 0-1 MSFA) for bragging rights, and a leg-up on the conference race. The team surrendered a 16-point lead as the Cardinals forced overtime and defeated the Siena Heights 23-16. Early in the game, SHU settled for a 3-0 lead after moving the ball to the Cardinal’s 2-yard line, but a penalty pushed the ball backward and stalled the drive.
The Saints’ offense sputtered at the opponent 16 again in the second and had to make a second field goal to hold a 6-0 lead as the teams entered the half. Siena Heights capped a nine-play drive off with a third field goal to build a two-score lead with 10:42 left in the third quarter. A fumble on an Andrew Bookman punt gave the Saints the ball at the Concordia (Mich.) 31. Jamon Benson II sprinted into the endzone for the game’s first touchdown, and SHU led 16-0 close to the midway mark of the third quarter.
Busted coverage on the ensuing drive gave CUAA a 48-yard touchdown pass, and the Cardinals completed the two-point try to cut the SHU advantage in half with south of seven minutes left in the third stanza. The score remained 16-8 until late in the fourth quarter when an interception gave the Cardinals the ball in Siena Heights’ territory. A 21-yard touchdown pass followed by a second two-point conversation tied things up with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.
Neither team could break the deadlock before the end of regulation as the game moved into overtime. The Saints won the toss and elected to be on defense first in the extra football. Concordia completed a third touchdown pass, and the extra point put the Cardinals ahead for the first time in the afternoon. The Saints moved the ball to the CUAA eight, but three incomplete passes ended the game.
The Saints (2-4, 1-1 MSFA) will hit the road next week with a road game versus Madonna at Churchill High School in Livonia, Michigan. The game is set to begin at 1:00 PM.
At Adrian College, the Bulldogs (4-1, 1-0 MIAA) were looking to keep the momentum against the Trine University Thunder (4-1, 0-1 MIAA) after upsetting Hope College in Holland a week earlier.
The Bulldogs fought an uphill battle throughout the contest Saturday finding themselves in a 14-0 deficit. With 2:52 remaining late in the second quarter, Steven Moses’ 1 yard rushing touchdown cut the deficit to 14-7. Trine responded, increasing their lead to 24-14.
With 2:56 remaining in the third quarter, defensive back Jimerie Cannon gave the Bulldogs life with an interception. Heading into the fourth quarter the Bulldogs had climbed back within three points, trailing 24-21. The Bulldogs had a chance to win the game with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, but failed to score…dropping the contest 27-21.
The loss dropped Adrian’s MIAA record to 1-1 and overall record to 4-2.
The Bulldogs continue their MIAA slate with a home game against Kalamazoo College on Saturday, October 15 at 5:00 p.m. at Docking Stadium.
*Featured Image by Grace Sheumann*