Adrian, Mich. - The Marian football team began their 2024 season with a force on Saturday afternoon, taking down Siena Heights 31-9 in their season opener. Marian's defense swarmed the field and tied a program record with seven takeaways in a single game, as they begin the season 1-0 for the third consecutive year.

The first of many Marian takeaways came on just the second play of the game, as newcomer Jayden Scruggs made his presence felt on the defensive line with a strip-sack on the second play of the game, with the ball landing in the arms of Deon Pettiford. The Knights were unable to capitalize off the turnover with a touchdown, as Tristan Polk drove Marian into manageable field goal range for Kenny Curry, who converted a 20-yard attempt for his first collegiate points. 

The Knights forced their second turnover of the game on the ensuing series when JT Downey stripped and recovered the ball, however the Knights were unable to add to their lead. Siena Heights responded with a 98-yard scoring drive, as an open 42-yard pass put the home team on top in the waning moments of the first quarter. Marian ended the first quarter trailing 7-3, punting twice in the early going of the second quarter.

Siena Heights would punt on their opening series of the second quarter, but quickly saw their offense begin to crumble as the Marian defense asserted their dominance over the home team. With 7:33 remaining in the opening half, Dwight Lewis III jumped an under-thrown pass and raced 20 yards for his first career pick-six, pushing Marian into a 10-3 advantage. Three plays after the Lewis interception, Deon Pettiford hawked his first-career interception as he snared the Elijah Taylor pass, setting up the first offensive touchdown of the season as Tristan Polk capped off the 27-yard series with a sneak.

Marian kept Siena Heights searching for an identity on offense as Joe Apata recovered a fumble and the defense forced another punt, with the game heavily favoring the Knights. Despite their woes, the Saints were able to add to their total in the final seconds of the half, blocking a Mason Miller punt and recovering the loose ball in the end zone, drawing within one possession as the halftime score favored Marian 17-9.

After making halftime adjustments, the Marian offense controlled the third quarter, finding the end zone on two of their three possessions. The opening possession of the half would end in a turnover on downs, but after the Knights defense forced a punt, Tristan Polk engineered a swift 70-yard series, with a 42-yard completion to Jake Reichard setting up a Keagan La Belle touchdown. Following another Saints punt, Polk uncorked a 59-yard bomb to Reichard, connecting for the fifth time in the game to set up red zone opportunity. A pass to Nick Miller moved the ball to the one, where Polk would score his second rushing touchdown on the day to give Marian a 31-9 lead.

The Knights forced a punt to end the third quarter, and put the game to rest in the fourth quarter with their defense continuing to wreak havoc. Marian forced a punt and turnover on downs on their first two possessions of the final quarter, and ended the game with interceptions on their final two snaps. Logan Carrington recorded his first and second career interceptions to end the final two series for the Saints offense, as his interceptions on consecutive plays put an end to the game, as Marian closed the 31-9 victory two snaps later with a kneel down.

Marian's defense forced seven total takeaways in the win, tying a single-game program record first established in 2016 against Concordia. Carrington recorded two interceptions, while Pettiford recorded a pair of takeaways on his fumble recovery and interception. Downey recorded seven tackles and recovered a fumble he forced, while freshman Wyatt Woodall led the team in tackles with seven. Marian was credited with four sacks in the win, with Jesse Stevens and Jayden Scruggs each recording one. Dwight Lewis III added a pair of tackles to his 20-yard interception return for touchdown. 

Offensively, Marian struggled on the ground totaling 49 yards, while Polk passed for 222. La Belle led the team in rushing with 29 and one score, while Ali Richardson had 19 yards. Reichard led all pass catchers with 133 yards on five catches, and the running back combination of La Belle and Baron Huebler combined for 50 receiving yards. 

Marian will return home following their season opening win, playing their first game at Ascension St. Vincent Field on Saturday, September 14 at 6:05 p.m. Marian takes on Concordia in their final matchup in series history, as the home opener caps the annual Family Weekend festivities. 

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