FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Marian University football team traveled to the No.4-ranked University of Saint Francis for its Mid-States Football Association Mideast League season-opening game. The game was touted as the College Fanz Network NAIA Game of the Week and it lived up to its billing.

The Knights and Cougars went back and forth throughout the first half as both teams squandered opportunities. In a first half that was eerily reminiscent of the McKendree first half, the turnover count was nearly as high as the score. The teams combined for five turnovers as the Cougars fumbled the ball two times and had an interception, while the Knights turned the ball over two times with one on a fumble and one on an interception.

The Cougars took the lead with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Knights defense held strong in the first half against a highly-potent Cougar offense.

The third quarter was nearly the same as the McKendree game as the Cougars drove down the field on a 6-play, 70-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead. After the Knights were forced to punt, the Cougars embarked on a 10-play, 73-yard drive to take a 21-0 lead and seize control of the game. One more USF score gave the No. 4-ranked Cougars a 28-0 lead with 10:56 remaining in the game.

The Knights responded off the kickoff as redshirt junior Clay Coomer (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) marched the team down the field on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 4:26 off the clock and cut the gap to 21-7. A 16-yard run by junior William Stubbs (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) opened thd drive and a pass interference penalty put the Knights at the USF 27-yard line. After two more plays, Coomer hit sophomore Ryan Ferguson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) with a 14-yard touchdown pass to cut the gap to 14 points.

The Knights got an interception from sophomore Reece Green (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield), but the Cougars proved too strong and closed out the 28-7 victory.

The Knights (2-2) were held to just 181 yards of total offense and only 75 yards through the air. Stubbs led the way with 42 yards on 12 carries. Ferguson and Coomer hooked up for the team's only touchdown as the Knights fell to 0-1 in MSFA Mideast League play.

Sophomore Isaac Jean (Delray Beach, Fla./Atlantic) was named Marian's College Fanz Player of the Game after he tallied 11 tackles (five solo, six assists), one tackle-for-loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Senior Chris White (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) led the Knights with 11 tackles (eight solo, three assists) and two forced fumbles, while redshirt junior Jeff Geoghegan (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) notched an interception for the Knights.

Marian University continues its road swing as the Knights head to Deerfield, Ill., on Friday for an MSFA Mideast League matchup with Trinity International University. Saturday's game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The game will be broadcast LIVE on the Knights Football Radio Network with Dr. David Pierce (pbp) and Jeff Burris (color) calling all the action beginning at 1:45 p.m.