INDIANAPOLIS - Coming off their third-consecutive 50-point victory and riding a four-game winning streak, the Marian football team will finish their non-conference slate this Saturday night at Taylor University. The matchup for the 12th-ranked Knights and the (RV) Trojans is the third consecutive meeting between the two at Turner Stadium, while kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night.

THE GAME AND SERIES
The Knights are humming entering their week six game against Taylor, holding a 4-1 record on the season after winning last week at Madonna 58-7. The Trojans have had a strong season, averaging 45.4 points per game through five outings, holding a 3-2 overall record. Taylor is receiving votes in the national poll, while Marian is ranked 12th in the NAIA, their highest ranking in the last year. 

Marian is 17-1 overall in the series against Taylor, while head coach Ted Karras Jr. is 7-1 against the Trojans in his coaching career. Karras is seeking his 70th career victory at Marian University this weekend. 

Marian won last year's game 35-34 in overtime, getting a key stop from on the game-deciding two-point conversion from the Trojans. Taylor set a program record last year with 459 rushing yards in the loss, while Marian saw running back Keagan La Belle rush for what is now the third-most rushing yards in single game history, with the senior piling on 263 yards a season ago.

La Belle is averaging 137.8 yards per game against Taylor in his career, scoring six total touchdowns against the Trojans. Last season, Jake Reichard caught 11 passes for 149 yards and a score, and Tristan Polk rushed for one touchdown in the win last year. Deon Pettiford recorded one of Marian's three blocked kicks in the win last season, and JT Downey logged the second of his three career interceptions. 

This Saturday's game will be the final non-league game for both Marian and Taylor in the regular season. 

NATIONAL LEADERS
Marian has several players garnering national attention, with several ranking high in the NAIA this season. Keagan La Belle ranks seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game (111.5) and rushing touchdowns (7), and Logan Carrington is second in the NAIA with his four interceptions. Deon Pettiford remains among the top-25 in the NAIA in sacks with 3.5 on the season, and Tristan Polk has proven as one of the most efficient quarterbacks this season, ranking 13th in the nation in QB Efficiency (156.1). Dean Mason holds the fourth-highest punt average at 43.8 yards per kick through six weeks of NAIA football, and Jake Reichard ranks 15th in the NAIA in receiving touchdowns with five.

SCORING AT WILL
Marian is on a roll offensively, averaging 47.0 points per game this season overall, while surpassing the 50-point threshold in each of their last three games. Marian has scored 52 points or more in each of the last three games, and is averaging 53.5 points per game during the current four-game win streak. The Knights have averaged 59.7 points per game over the last three weeks, ascending them to fifth in the NAIA in scoring this year.

WATCH AND FOLLOW ALONG
Those fans unable to attend Saturday's game can watch live through the Taylor Trojan YouTube Network, listed above. The Knights' broadcast duo of Scott McCauley and Zach Graves will be calling an audio-only broadcast of the game live from Upland, streamed live through the ISC Sports Network. Fans can also find live statistics at marianstats.com. Live updates of the game will be posted periodically on the official Marian Athletics Twitter/X page, @MUKnights, along with the team page of @MarianUFootball.

FOOTBALL WEATHER
October has brought traditional football weather in the air, as temperatures at kickoff on Saturday will hover around 60 degrees, with the temps falling to the low 50's throughout the game.

TICKETS 
Tickets are available now online, and can also be purchased at the gate on Saturday night. General admission pricing is $10, and children five and under get in free. Gates open for spectators at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night. 

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 7:00 p.m. from Upland, Indiana, as the Knights and Trojans do battle for each team's final non-conference meeting of the regular season. 

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