CANTON, Ohio - The Marian University football team closed the 2009 campaign with a 6-5 record after a 41-7 defeat to No. 21-ranked Walsh University on Saturday afternoon at Fawcett Stadium.

Walsh jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Knights put together a nine-play, 83-yard drive that resulted in a 36-yard touchdown pass from senior Matt Rogers (Trafalgar, Ind./Indian Creek) to junior Chris Rutherford (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) to cut the lead to 14-7 with 6:56 to go in the first half.

After Rogers was intercepted, sophomore Eric Sheppard () picked off a Walsh pass and returned it to the Walsh 33-yard line to put the Knights within striking distance of tying the score heading into halftime.

The Knights drove the ball to the 10-yard line and lined up for a 27-yard field goal attempt. The Cavaliers seized the momentum as they blocked the kick and returned it 83 yards to take a 21-7 lead with 10 seconds to go in the half and deflate the Knights' collective hopes.

Rogers drove the Knights down the field late in the third quarter, but could not seal the deal from the Walsh three-yard line as they turned the ball over on downs. Walsh subsequently drove down the field on a 12-play, 97-yard drive to take a 34-7 lead and dash the Knights' hopes of another 7-4 season. Another late score closed out the 41-7 win for Walsh as the Knights finished the season 6-5.

Rogers, playing his final collegiate game, led the Knights with 98 yards rushing on 13 carries. He also finished 17-for-39 for 184 yards passing, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Rutherford finished with a career-high eight catches for 95 yards and one score.

Defensively, sophomore Reece Green (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield) tallied a career-high 15 tackles (six solo, nine assists), while junior Brock Caraboa (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) notched 14 tackles (seven solo, seven assists). Green and Caraboa combined for three tackles-for-loss.

The Knights close the 2009 campaign with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-4 mark in MSFA Mideast League play.