INDIANAPOLIS - After a sluggish three quarters that amassed 10 points, the Marian football team put their foot down in the fourth quarter Saturday, scoring 21 points in the final stanza to run away with a 28-11 victory over St. Francis (Ill.). In the win that moves Marian to 8-1 on the season and 3-0 in the MSFA Midwest League, Keagan La Belle broke Tevin Lake and Charles Salary's single season rushing touchdown record, as the senior scored three times in total in the win.

Neither team had success moving the ball in the opening quarter of Saturday's game, as Marian and St. Francis each punted on their first three possessions of the game. The Knights struggled to move the ball through the air early on Saturday as Tristan Polk was missing two of his receivers due to injury. The loss of talent at the position came into play on the team's fourth possession, as the quarterback forced a ball into double coverage and threw his first interception since week zero. 

The interception came with 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter, all but ending a period that saw Marian go scoreless for the first time in eight games. 

Marian's defense would continue to haunt St. Francis as the second quarter began, forcing a fourth punt on as many possessions. Starting their next offensive backed up following the punt, Marian got a lift from Keagan La Belle, who sparked the team with a 57-yard run. Three plays later, La Belle dashed into the end zone from two yards away, putting the first points of the afternoon on the board.

The defense would continue to stifle the Fighting Saints after the score, forcing another pair of punts. In between kicks, Marian had their first failed fourth down play of the season, as a fake punt attempt failed, resulting in a turnover on downs.

The Knights punted one final time in the half, and as the Saints took over following the two minute timeout, the visitors gained momentum, running an up-tempo, quick attack through the defense. The Saints marched the ball to the four, but were denied after that, as Yassine Falke made an interception to end the series and preserve the 7-0 lead at the break.

St. Francis used their up-tempo offense throughout the third quarter, pressuring the defense as they were able to move the ball quickly downfield. The Saints' first series in the quarter ended with a self-inflicted wound as Reis Walker made an interception, but his return of 75 yards that went to the end zone would be called back due to a Marian penalty. Having points taken off the board, the offense failed to capture momentum and punted, with St. Francis running 15 plays before settling on a 20-yard field goal.

Marian would punt once more before the end of the third quarter, and at the beginning of the fourth, the defense got off the field as St. Francis missed a 50-yard field goal. 

A scoring uptick began following the missed kick, as Tristan Polk finished a 67-yard drive with a four-yard bootleg, putting Marian in the lead at 14-3. The good feeling did not last long, however, as St. Francis' Carl Bew answered the score with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown. A two-point conversion made the game 14-11, putting pressure on Marian with 8:05 to play in the game.

Following the kick return score, Marian's offense dialed up consecutive six-play scoring drives, with the first covering 66 yards and ending in a La Belle rushing score, tying the single season rushing touchdown record at 18 rushing scores. A punt would give the ball to the Knights at midfield, and Marian capitalized, getting a 23-yard score from La Belle with 1:47 remaining, icing the 28-11 victory on his record-setting touchdown run.

Curtis Foust would intercept Nathan Maul in the waning moments of the game, forcing a third and final turnover to clinch the win.

La Belle's was the offensive star of the game, rushing 27 times for 148 yards and three touchdowns, breaking the single season rushing touchdown record. La Belle currently has 19 rushing touchdowns on the year, surpassing the previous mark of 18 held by Tevin Lake and Charles Salary. Lake set the mark in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons, while Salary capped his mark in the 2019 season. La Belle's three scores on the ground also tie him for second all-time with Salary with 45 career rushing scores. 

Tristan Polk would finish the game 10-21 passing for 155 yards, while rushing for another 51 yards and a rushing score. Aidan Wanner led the shortened receiving room with six catches and 108 yards. 

Defensively, JT Downey turned in a team-high 12 tackles, while Wyatt Woodall had 11 and Cade Houseman had 10. Falke made seven tackles to go with his interception and three breakups, while Foust had three tackles and an interception. Ozzy Pollard made 1.5 sacks in the win, while Darian Dixon and Luke Swartz also notched at least a half-sack each. 

The Knights will play their final regular-season home game next Saturday, hosting Judson University on the team's senior day. Kickoff is 1:05 p.m., and the senior festivities begin approximately 30 minutes before kickoff.

MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.