Marion, Ind. – The Marian football team raced out to a 17-0 lead and led going into the fourth quarter, but two fourth quarter touchdowns for Indiana Wesleyan put the Wildcats in front as they held on to win 42-40. Marian's first loss of the season drops their overall record to 8-1 and 5-1 in the MSFA.
 
The Knights owned the first quarter of the game, pouring on 10 points in the first 15 minutes of play. The offense marched the field with ease before settling on a field goal on their opening drive, and on the defense's first possession on the field Jayshawn Underwood forced and recovered a fumble. Marian would have to punt following the first fumble, but Deon Pettiford quickly got the ball back as he pried the ball out of Dederrian Williams hands.
 
The recovery by Nate Frey gave Marian the ball with excellent field position, and on a third and long Zach Bundalo connected with Drew Byerly on a 35-yard screen pass that went for a touchdown. Underwood would get the ball back again for Marian has Xander Stokes threw an interception to the nickelback, and on the first play of the second quarter on the ensuing possession Keagan La Belle raced untouched into the end zone.
 
La Belle's touchdown made it a 17-0 game, but the Wildcats were not out of it as they found the end zone on their second possession in the quarter. Indiana Wesleyan's defense forced Marian to punt immediately after the touchdown, and in three plays the home team made it a three-point game.
 
Marian stalled out the Wildcats momentum for a moment with the score favoring the visitors 17-14, but the Knights regained a glimpse of energy as Jalen Jennings returned the following kickoff 88-yards for his second return touchdown of the season. The electric score was followed with a missed extra point, and after a 10-play drive the Wildcats answered with a touchdown to make it a 23-21 game.
 
Before the first half fireworks ended, Marian made one final power play as the defense forced a punt in the waning seconds of the quarter. With six seconds and the ball near midfield Marian attempted a hail mary pass, as Bundalo rolled out and heaved a prayer to Tirae Spence, who came down with a leaping 46-yard touchdown grab. The Knights went for two after the score and Bundalo connected with Byerly on the eight-point swing, going into the locker room with a 31-21 lead.
 
The high volume offensive plays subsided in the third quarter as a pair of punts headlined the start of the quarter, with Mason Miller's attempt getting blocked. The Marian defense would force a four-and-out after the block as Deon Pettiford made a fourth down stop, leading to points with 22 seconds remaining in the quarter as Marlon Pomili converted a 39 yard field goal.

Marian carried a 34-21 lead entering the fourth quarter, with their score getting dented by the Wildcats as Stokes completed a 30-yard touchdown pass. A fumble on the ensuing series by the Knights would give the ball right back to the home team in plus territory, and a three-yard touchdown from Isaiah Gibbs gave Indiana Wesleyan their first lead of the game.
 
Trailing 35-34, the Knights offense found a stride and reached the IWU 35, but a career-long field goal attempt of 52 yards by Pomili was not the answer, as the kick missed to the left. Indiana Wesleyan answered the miss with the game-sealing touchdown, as Gibbs raced 59 yards to the end zone to make it a 42-34 game.
 
With 4:10 remaining Marian had one final chance, and marched down the field in the two minute drill gaining chunks of yards through Spence, Baron Huebler, and a pair of Wildcat penalties. The second of the back to back infractions gave Marian the ball on the five yard line, and on third and goal Bundalo connected with CJ Young for a touchdown strike. Trailing by two the Knights were forced to go for two, but Bundalo failed to connect a second time with Young as the conversion failed.
 
Marian would attempt an onside kick as they had no timeouts remaining, but Indiana Wesleyan recovered the attempt, sealing the 42-40 contest after a pair of kneel downs.
 
The Wildcats out-gained Marian 503-343 in the defeat, while the Knights won the turnover margin 3-1. Bundalo accounted for 277 yards of offense, throwing for 250 while running for 27. The senior quarterback threw for three touchdowns, with Spence leading the receivers with 74 yards. Jennings caught six passes for 48 yards, finishing with 135 all-purpose yards including his 88-yard kick return touchdown.
 
Nate Frey led the Marian defense with 11 total tackles, while Pettiford had eight total stops including 2.5 tackles for loss. Dwight Lewis III and Underwood each had six tackles, with Underwood forcing a game-best two turnovers.
 
Marian will look to rebound next Saturday on their senior day, as the Knights host Siena Heights at St. Vincent Field. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m.

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