INDIANAPOLIS - Backed by a defense that tied a program record with five interceptions and an offense that capitalized on big plays, the Marian football team landed a 24-14 victory over St. Francis in the Franciscan Bowl on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Knights improve their season record to 7-0 while they move to 4-0 in the MSFA Mideast League.

Defensive plays highlighted much of the game, as the Knights were forced to a three-and-out by the Cougars on their opening drive, while the Cougars stalled out a lengthy opening drive. The first firework of the afternoon came on a field goal attempt for St. Francis, when James Ralph stuck a hand up and blocked a low kick from Aidan Hosler, denying the chance for points.

Marian's offense struggled to keep in rhythm with their second crack at the ball and punted the ball back to the Cougars, however the Marian defense had a strong response as Danny Lewis went up and made an interception, stalling a 10-play USF series. Lewis' interception gave Marian the ball with great field position, and one snap later Zach Bundalo uncorked a 38-yard touchdown pass to Tirae Spence, giving Marian a 7-0 lead. The score would hold at 7-0 as the first quarter expired with St. Francis marching on offense, but their drive ended in a turnover on downs after Reis Walker's first career sack.

The Knights hunted points immediately after the sack, and got a boost in the form of a 52-yard run from William Gibson. Gibson's long run set Marian up at the one yard line, and Bundalo finished the drive with a score as the quarterback lurched into the end zone for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season. The 14-0 lead looked well protected as Marian forced another punt, but after getting backed up from the boot, Keagan La Belle coughed up the ball, fumbling right back to St. Francis. The Cougars would score on the ensuing driving, making it a 14-7 game with 6:32 to play in the first half.

Marian regrouped after the fumble and marched down the field with the help of penalty yards and chunk passing plays, moving deep into Cougar territory. With 2:34 to play in the half, Bundalo connected with Jake Reichard for his second touchdown pass of the game, with the 11-yard connection giving Marian a 21-7 lead. The defense would protect the score going into halftime, as Danny Lewis made his second interception of the game to send both teams to the locker room.

Punts were exchanged by both sides on the opening possession for both teams after halftime, with a short punt on St. Francis' second series giving Marian an opportunity to strike again. The Knights would fail to score however, as Bundalo threw his first interception in three games, giving the ball back to the Cougars. The hot potato effect continued as St. Francis carelessly gave Marian the ball right back, as Dwight Lewis III recorded his first interception of the season to stall Grant Gremel and the Cougars. Marian would ultimately end up punting the ball back to the Cougars, only to get the ball right back as Lewis III picked off Gremel again, with his diving catch coming at the USF 24.

Marlon Pomili would send a 42 yard field goal through the uprights four plays later and extend Marian's lead to 24-7, where the score held until the start of the fourth quarter. St. Francis began marching down field after the kick, and on the opening play of the final period, Cam Peterson waltzed into the end zone to make it a 24-14 contest. 

The Knights shortened the game after the score and pieced together a lengthy 14-play, 70-yard drive to get deep inside Cougar territory, but on a fourth down play Gibson was held a yard short, turning it over at the St. Francis six. Marian would quickly get the ball back as they forced a turnover on downs with the Cougars forced to go for it on fourth down, but couldn't find an insurance goal as a sack forced Mason Miller back into action. 

With 3:44 remaining in the game the Cougars took their final possession, and put together a promising series to get into Knight territory, but on a fourth and long it crumbled apart, as Dwight Lewis made a third interception in the game, robbing Gremel of a first down pass. Lewis' interception extinguished all hope of a Cougar comeback with 2:17 to play, while a Keagan La Belle 66 yard run iced the win for Marian as the Knights would kneel out the final minute of the clock, sealing the 24-14 victory.

Marian ran for 201 yards as a team in the win, with La Belle and Gibson each recording their second 100-yard games of the season. La Belle finished with a game-high 105 yards, while Gibson had 100 yards. Spence had 72 yards receiving in the win, while Reichard and Drew Byerly each gained over 20 yards on five combined receptions. Bundalo finished the game passing for 120 yards and two scores, while running for a third. Bundalo's rushing touchdown in the second quarter set a Marian single season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Defensively, Dwight Lewis III stole the show by tying a single game record with three interceptions in addition to his four tackles and three pass breakups. Danny Lewis had two interceptions and three tackles, while the Knights' leading tackler was Jake Paris with nine total stops. Clay Campbell, Walker, Joe Owens, and Deon Pettiford each recorded a sack in the victory, and Marshall Flaig made five stops filling in for an injured Nate Frey.

Marian gets set to go on the road for their next two games, as they play back to back games in Grant County. The first of the two comes on Saturday October 28, as the Knights travel to Taylor for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

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