INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian football team returned to the win column on Saturday afternoon, staving off an Olivet Nazarene rally to earn a 45-40 homecoming victory over the Tigers. Marian is 5-1 on the season following the win, while starting MSFA Midwest play with a 1-0 record.

A heavy dosage of defensive plays opened the game before the scoring opened, as Marian went three and out on their opening series of the game, while Logan Carrington recorded his third interception of the season to kill Olivet Nazarene's first possession of the game. The defensive presence continued as the Tigers held the Knights scoreless on a drive that featured a 60-yard completion from Tristan Polk to Tirae Spence as a field goal was missed, while Marian forced a punt as Olivet took back over on offense. Polk's strong right arm made a play as he connected with Jake Reichard for 56-yards, but the play would be called back due to pass interference, and the drive stalled one play later as Polk fumbled the ball to Olivet Nazarene.

The scoreboard took its first dent after the fumble, as Evan Leake ran in an eight-yard score to give the visitors a 7-0 lead. After seeing the Tigers score, Marian responded with a scoring drive of their own, this time getting the big pass play between Polk and Reichard to stick as a 45-yard completion helped set up the quarterback's seventh rushing touchdown on the season. Olivet punted as the second quarter started, and Marian again found the end zone, with Polk connecting to his top wideout Reichard on a 13-yard touchdown pass, pushing the home team in front 14-7. 

Marian's defense stood tall with their first lead since the overtime period at Taylor, forcing a punt that gave Marian possession with 9:11 remaining in the first half. After Max Autry's punt return, the offense methodically moved the ball downfield, marching on a 21-play series that ended in a score, as Kenny Curry converted a 24-yard field goal after the offense came to a halt at the seven. Leading 17-7, Marian ended the first half with a defensive stand, as Joe Apata recorded 1.5 sacks on the final series after Jayshawn Underwood's fourth interception was fumbled back to the Tigers. 

The Knights started the second half strong with back-to-back punts forced by the defense, while the offense scored touchdowns after each of the free kicks. Keagan La Belle darted for 57 yards on Marian's first series of the third quarter to set up Polk's second rushing touchdown of the game, while the junior running back capped a 46-yard series with an 11-yard score just three minutes later to push the lead to 31-7. 

La Belle's touchdown run came with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter, and seemed to spring the Olivet Nazarene offense, as they responded with consecutive touchdown scores. A long kickoff return set up a Jack Miller touchdown throw, and after forcing Marian to punt they found the end zone in three plays that covered 92 yards, making it a 31-21 game. The Knights seemed to get off the hump and strung together a pair of positive offensive plays, but Jake Reichard would fumble after moving Marian into Tiger territory, and on the fourth play of the ensuing series, Miller completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Ray Coffey to make it a three-point game just seconds into the fourth quarter.

The 21-point run ended just as quickly as it began, as Marian snapped the streak with a 90-yard drive of their own, getting a chunk play of 67 yards to Reichard to drive the team into the red zone. La Belle finished off the drive with his second touchdown of the game, giving Marian a 38-28 lead. Olivet would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession as a Cade Houseman sack on fourth down killed the series, while two plays later La Belle completed his second three-touchdown game of the season with a six yard scamper.

The final touchdown of the game for Marian gave them a 45-28 lead, but the Tigers would not go away, answering the score by La Belle with an Evan Leake touchdown pass, bringing the score within 11 as Olivet failed a two-point conversion. The Knights killed clock after the touchdown but not enough, as Olivet Nazarene took over with 2:51 to play, scoring after Miller found Blake Lamb for his second touchdown of the afternoon. Dwight Lewis III would intercept the two-point conversion making it a 45-40 game, and proceeded to recover the following onside kick, ending the game after three kneel downs in a Marian victory.

Marian out-gained Olivet Nazarene 545-414 in the game, with quarterback Tristan Polk pacing the offense by throwing for 347 yards and a touchdown while running for two more scores and 32 yards on the ground. La Belle rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns, and Reichard had a career-game, hauling in 10 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown. Trey Gibson ran for 18 yards, and Tirae Spence caught four balls for 72 yards. Defensively, Logan Carrington had a career-game as well making his first start, recording 12 tackles and his third interception of the season. Underwood made six stops and had an interception, and Apata recorded 1.5 of the four sacks for Marian. 

The Knights will end their three-game home stand next Saturday when they take on the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) in the battle for the Franciscan Bowl Trophy.

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