JOLIET, Ill. - The No. 22 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars defeated the University of St. Francis (Ill.) by a final score of 42-24 in an MSFA Midwest League matchup on Saturday, November 8. 

The Cougars got on the scoreboard first when quarterback Joshua Kulka connected with tight end Chris Mullen on a six-yard touchdown pass to make it a 7-0 game with 9:46 on the clock in the first quarter. After the Fighting Saints tied the game up, Azariah Wallace scored on a two-yard run to make it 14-7 in favor of SF. Colin McPeek brought in a 34-yard pass from Kulka to extend Saint Francis's lead to 21-3 with 2:41 left to play in the second quarter. The Cougars would score two more times before the end of the half to make the score 35-10, thanks to a 48-yard receiving touchdown from McPeek and a 10-yard pass from Kulka to Adam Smith.

St. Francis (Ill.) scored the lone points of the third quarter off a six-yard rushing TD to cut the Cougars' lead to 35-17. Saint Francis answered with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Wallace. The Fighting Saints would score again before time ran out in the fourth quarter, but it would not be enough as Saint Francis brought home the 42-24 road victory on Saturday.

The Cougars recorded 466 yards of total offense on Saturday. Kulka completed 22 of 32 passing attempts for 334 yards and four touchdowns. Wallace led the running game, finishing with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. McPeek and Mullen led the receiving game, with McPeek bringing in four catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Mullen finished with five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Austin Deleon scored six points on six successful point after attempts. 

Defensively, Saint Francis recorded 40 total tackles. Marquise Cross led with 11 tackles, while Tamarris Springfield followed with 10 tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Elijah Hunter came away with an interception, while Bobby Weiler, Nate Johnson and Chamaar Smith combined for two sacks to keep the Fighting Saints off balance. 

Up next, the Cougars (8-2, 3-1 MSFA) will close out the regular season during Senior Day at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium against Judson University on November 15. 

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.