INDIANAPOLIS - A total team victory capped the home slate for Marian football on Saturday afternoon, as the Knights scored in all three phrases of the game in a one-sided 76-6 senior day rout of Judson University. Marian's win gives them an overall record of 7-2 entering the final week of the season, while improving to 3-1 in MSFA Midwest League play.

The Knights dominating win started on the first play of the game, as Judson muffed the opening kickoff of the game, with the ball landing at the feet of Tylen Cunningham for the easy fumble recovery. Two plays later Tristan Polk connected with Jake Reichard on a seven-yard touchdown pass, igniting the rout within the first minute of the game. Yassine Falke recorded his first career interception on the next drive and returned the pick 39-yards to the house for his first career touchdown, while Polk ran in a two-point conversion to make it a 14-0 game.

Wyatt Woodall recorded a drive-ending sack on fourth down to end the next Eagles series, and the Knights again raced to the end zone with Baron Huebler capping a 50-yard score with a 24-yard touchdown run, and after forcing a punt Polk had his second touchdown pass of the opening quarter as the clock hit zeros, finding Tirae Spence from 31-yards away. Marian ended the first quarter leading 28-0, marking the most points scored in a quarter in 11 games and the most points scored in a quarter since September 30 of 2023. 

Marian showed no signs of letting up in the second quarter, as the defense continued to make life miserable for the Eagles. Logan Carrington recorded his fourth interception of the season and returned the ball 56-yards for his first career touchdown, while Marian's first offensive possession of the quarter ended with a Keagan La Belle touchdown run of 12-yards, as the junior scored on his sixth carry of the series. The special teams got involved with the scoring after the defense forced a three-and-out, as Charles Vaden raced up the home sideline on a 62-yard punt return touchdown, putting the home team in control by a 48-0 count.

The Knights would force one more punt before the half ended, and had a quick two-play scoring drive to end their effective half, as Polk found Reichard on a 57-yard catch-and-run, with the receiver dashing into the end zone to give the home team a one-sided 55-0 lead at the half. 

In the second half, the officials instigated their own running clock, keeping the clock running throughout the final two quarters. Despite the running clock, Marian showed no signs of slowing down as Riley Palmeter recorded a 31 yard reception to set up La Belle's second touchdown of the game, while a long punt return from Max Autry set up a 10-yard touchdown for Baron Huebler. 

The Eagles would score on the final play of the third quarter to make it a 69-6 score, however Marian matched the score as their backups marched down the field with ease, seeing Todd Hickman score his first collegiate touchdown on an 11-yard power run. Hickman's score gave Marian a 76-6 lead with 9:16 to play in the game, and with the running clock the game would end on the next Judson series, as a Thomas Urban sack headlined the aggressive Knights defense on the game's penultimate play.

The 76-6 win is the fourth-largest margin of victory in Marian football history, trailing a pair of wins over Madonna and a 2011 victory over Concordia. The offense ran a program-low 33 plays from scrimmage, but managed to gain 392 yards. The special teams units gained 173 yards of kick and punt return yardage, and Carrington and Falke combined for 95 yards of interception return. 

Polk finished the game 10-12 passing and threw for 176 yards, connecting with Jake Reichard for 76 yards and two of his three touchdowns. Jameson Coverstone had 27 yards on three catches, and Tirae Spence and Riley Palmeter each gained over 30 yards with their lone receptions, with Spence finding the end zone. La Belle ran 10 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Huebler had two scores on six carries, gaining 55 yards. Ali Richardson, Trey Gibson, and Todd Hickman combined for 45 yards on the ground, with Hickman scoring the fifth rushing TD of the afternoon. 

Isaiah Street led the defense in tackles with six total stops, making 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. Reis Walker had a forced fumble and four tackles, and Logan Carrington made four tackles while including his 56-yard pick-six. Wyatt Woodall made two sacks in the win, and Solomon Parker and Deon Pettiford each had a sack in the win. 

Marian will complete their regular season next weekend at St. Francis (Ill.), with kickoff coming at 2:05 p.m. in Joilet, Illinois. 

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