Joliet, Ill. - In their first season as a member of the MSFA Midwest League, the Marian football team has claimed a Co-Championship, as a loss by Saint Francis (Ind.) coupled by the Knights regular season finale victory over St. Francis (Ill.) lifted the Knights to a co-championship. Marian won 37-28 against St. Francis (Ill.), and end the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and a 4-1 record against the MSFA Midwest.

The Fighting Saints started Saturday's game with blur on the ground, getting a 47-yard run from Daniel McLaurin on the opening play of the game that would eventually set up a Sam Tumilty rushing touchdown on the series' seventh play. Marian would respond with a methodical 13-play series, running nine rushing plays before Tristan Polk capped the drive with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. 

The Knights forced a three-and-out in response as their defense tightened up behind a pair of Cade Houseman tackles, and behind the legs of Keagan La Belle, Marian again drove down field on the ground, entering the second quarter tied 7-7 with the ball on the Saints one. On the second play of the second quarter, Marian would find the end zone again with La Belle racing in from six yards out. The score would be followed by a a big play on special teams, as Zion Woods delivered a crushing hit on the kick returner Latorius Holida. Aidan Wanner recovered the fumble at the Saints 29-yard line, and set up another Marian scoring drive, as La Belle finished an eight-play series with a score from three yards out.

Marian led 21-7 with 10:23 to play in the first half, and after getting a stop on defense would find another scoring drive before the half. A 25-yard complete from Polk to Jameson Coverstone before the two-minute timeout gave Marian the ball inside the red zone, and set up a 34-yard field goal for Kenny Curry. Marian led 24-7 after the field goal, but allowed a long return coupled with a penalty on ensuing kick-off, giving the Fighting Saints life before the break, as they would score with 10 seconds left in the half. Marian led 24-14 at the break.

After halftime, Marian looked in good shape to add to their lead as the offense moved the ball to midfield, but the Fighting Saints pass rush would get to Polk, forcing an interception early in the third quarter. Tumilty ran in from 17 yards out to bring the home team within three points, but the Knights found a quick response on their next snap from scrimmage as Keagan La Belle made a statement. The junior running back followed his pulling lineman and dashed up the right sideline, cutting back to the middle of the field as he avoided defenders, breaking five total tackles on his path to the end zone that covered 81 yards. 

La Belle's touchdown is the longest run of his career, and his second touchdown run of 80 yards this season. The junior's score gave Marian a 30-21 lead, which would go on to hold as the score as the third quarter came to an end. Luke Swartz recorded his first career interception to derail a seven minute drive after the La Belle score.

Saint Francis would once again make the game a one-score contest in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 98-yard series with 3:41 to play in the game on a Tumilty 10-yard dash. The Saints touchdown came one series after missing a field goal, and brought the margin within two as Marian held a narrow 30-28 lead. The Knights would punt as they were unable to chew up the clock, but got a gift in another interception, as Dwight Lewis III made the game-sealing interception with 2:20 to play in the game. Lewis ran his interception back 20 yards to set up the offense at the six, and two plays later La Belle put the game away, scoring his fourth touchdown to give the Knights a nine-point edge. 

The Fighting Saints would have one final series at an attempt at a comeback, but had a pair of sacks from Isaiah Street and Deon Pettiford end the game, closing the 37-28 victory for the Knights. 

Marian out-gained the Saints 389-337, gaining 298 of that on the ground. La Belle had a game for the record books, recording the second-most yards in single game history with 290 on 40 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per run. La Belle scored a career-high four touchdowns on the ground, and was joined in the end zone by Tristan Polk, who also ran for one touchdown. Polk threw for 91 yards in the game, finding seven different receivers for one catch each. The Knights' defense was led by Cade Houseman, who recorded 17 total tackles, including one sack. Jayshawn Underwood made eight stops, and Wyatt Woodall and Street each made seven tackles. Street and Pettiford each finished with 1.5 sacks in the game. 

Marian will now set their sights on the NAIA Selection Show, as they look to claim an at-large bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series. 

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