Southfield, Mich. - Four first quarter touchdowns would be more than enough for the Marian football team, as they dominated Lawrence Tech in the regular season finale to a tune of a 45-14 rout. Marian finishes the regular season with an 8-1 overall mark, and a 6-1 record in MSFA Mideast play.

The Marian defense came out making plays early as they have done so often throughout the season, forcing a three and out on the opening series to set up the offense. Zach Bundalo would need just three plays to march his team to the end zone, capping a scoring drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Jennings. The swarming Marian defense got the ball back quickly as Tyler Bukur and Jayshawn Underwood combined for a sack with Bukur falling on the ball, and two plays later Bundalo found Jacob Pressler for an eight-yard score.

The 14-0 lead continued to grow in the first quarter, as another three and out and a trifecta of chunk plays allowed the Knights offense to convert a 61-yard drive for a touchdown, this time coming on a Bundalo touchdown strike to Tirae Spence. Clay Campbell put an end to a lengthy Lawrence Tech drive after Spence's first career touchdown with a sack, and Bundalo again led the offense down the field, with Christian Hunter scoring from 11 yards out. Marian led 28-0 after one quarter of play.

Marian's defense continued to harass Tyler Kulka and the Blue Devils, getting another sack to force a punt. Pinned back at their own three, the Knights drained 7:30 off the game clock as Bundalo led a 14-play, 97-yard drive that ended with a one-yard Baron Huebler touchdown run. The Knights were unable to keep the shutout going into halftime, as Lawrence Tech would answer Huebler's touchdown with one of their own, as scoring with 35 seconds to play before the break. Marian would kneel out the remaining time entering halftime on top 35-7. 

Coming out of halftime the Marian offense put together one final scoring drive with the starters, as Hunter and Jennings marched the team into Blue Devil territory. The drive was completed with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Bundalo to Stevens, pushing the Knights ahead 42-7. 10:19 to go in the third Lawrence Tech mustered a long-scoring drive, moving the ball 86 yards down field with Kulka tossing a nine-yard pass for a score. The score kept the offensive starters in for one extra series, but the Knights were unable to add to the board before the quarter's end, as Marlon Pomili would pull a 42-yard field goal. 

In the fourth quarter Marian's reserves flooded the field, and forced a pair of turnovers as they shutout Lawrence Tech in the final frame. Keagan La Belle and William Gibson handled the majority of the snaps in the backfield during the fourth quarter, with a 61-yard carry from La Belle setting up Pomili for the game's final score, as the sophomore nailed a 33-yard field goal. Jalen Lockett and Owen Golliher came away with the turnovers for Marian's defense, as they closed their regular season finale with a 45-14 win. 

Bundalo had a strong day throwing for 274 yards and four scores, becoming Marian's fourth all-time leader in touchdown passes and fifth all-time leader in passing yards. The redshirt junior hit Stevens eight times for 138 yards, while Jennings hauled in a career-high five passes for 88 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Huebler ran for 103 yards on the ground and La Belle had 71, with Hunter picking up 51. Golliher led the defense in tackles with six, and Deon Pettiford had a sack to go with his four tackles on the day. 

The NAIA Selection Show will air on Sunday night at 7 PM ET on the NAIA YouTube Channel. Marian will earn an at-large and reach the NAIA FCS for the fifth consecutive season, extending their program record. A preview will be released on Sunday night following the selection show on MUKnights.com and on Twitter, at @MUKnights.

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