Nov 07, 2015
Notables
-Stepka threw for 235 yards and five TDs, one shy of tying the program record
-Four different receivers scored a touchdown during the game.
-Greenville out-gained the Saints 444-297
-CSS extends UMAC winning streak to 30 games
GREENVILLE, Ill. (csssaints.com) -- The St. Scholastica football team took care of business in the regular season finale Saturday, dominating Greenville College by a score of 40-19 at Francis Field to clinch the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship outright.
Passing Attack
Saturday's victory marked the fifth straight win against Greenville. Leading the way this time around was the man under center, Kyle Stepka, who threw for 235 yards, with five passing touchdowns to only one interception. Stepka's five TDs were the most he's thrown all season and throughout his career as a Saint. The CSS scored touchdowns on five of seven red zone opportunities.
Stepka spread the love in his dominant performance, finding four different receives for touchdowns. Senior Andrew Smith, who has missed most of the season due to injury, snagged two TDs, his first two of the season, while catching five passes for 59 yards on the day. Also scoring for St. Scholastica was Nick Murphy with one TD on 79 yards receiving, Tyler Meany who's solo reception for 12 yards earned him a touchdown and Mitch O'Neil who also caught TD pass from eight yards out.
Special Teams Does It Again
After the Panthers went 99 yards on 12 plays to cut the Saints lead to 13-6 with 2:24 left in the first half, Mitch Ejnik took the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown to give CSS a 20-6 halftime lead. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown this season for the Saints and Ejnik's third special team's touchdown of the season (2 PR, 1KO).
Capitalizing Off Turnovers
The Saints did a great job containing the top offense in the UMAC in first half until the final two drives. After the Panthers stopped the Saints on fourth-and-1 at the 1-yard-line, Greenville marched 99 yards in 12 plays to make it 13-6. Then after the Ejnik kickoff return for a touchdown, the Panthers quickly marched down the field and got all the way down to the CSS 1-yard-line. However, it was the CSS defense's turn for a goalline stand, holding the Panthers on downs.
Alex Mangan would sack and force a fumble inside the Greenville 5-yard-line that was recovered by Frank Cerar and the Saints capitalized three plays later to extend its lead to 33-7. With the score 33-13 in the fourth quarter, Ejnik forced another Greenville fumble and Xavier Rhodes recovered it. The Saints would turn that turnover into points as well and led 40-13. The Panthers punched it in the end zone one more time, but Jason Senger would get another inteception as the Saints previaled 40-19.
The Saints scored 21 points off of turnovers in the contest and forced four turnovers in the victory.
Top Performances for CSS
Stepka finished 15-of-35 for 235 yards passing and five scores. Smith had five receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Murphy also had five receptions for 76 yards. Three of Jason Senger's four punts were downed inside the Greenville 20-yard-line. Xavier Rhodes recorded a career-high 16 tackles and recovered a fumble.August Marleau added 12 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. The Saints had 11 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in the game.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Jacob Stull ran for 211 yards on 37 carries. Jacob Battaglia had 153 yards passing and Rashaun Weber had five receptions for 82 yards. Robert Deering had 11 tackles to lead the Panther defense
Up Next
The Saints (9-1, 9-0 UMAC) have a bye week next week and will wait and see who they will draw in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs when they are announced on Sunday, November 15.