Oak Lawn, Ill. - For the first time since 2019, the Marian football team has secured an outright Mid-States Football Championship, as the Knights completed their MSFA Midwest Title on Saturday with a crushing 45-0 victory over No. 25 Saint Xavier. Marian's win caps an undefeated MSFA season with a 5-0 record, while the team's overall mark improves to 10-1. The Knights have won 10 consecutive games entering the NAIA Football Championship Series.

It took the Knights two possessions to get into gear on Saturday, but after two strong defensive stands, the offense got rolling on a 22-yard quarterback draw from Tristan Polk on a fourth and 15. The big play from the quarterback translated into points three plays later, as Polk scored on a quarterback power from five yards out to give Marian a 7-0 lead. 

The touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the first quarter provided Marian the lead for good, as the points kept rolling in the second and third quarters. The Knights' stingy defense forced a punt early in the second quarter, and three plays later the offense found the end zone, with Keagan La Belle plunging in from eight yards out. Polk connected with Jake Reichard for a 35-yard catch to set up the running back's 21st rushing touchdown of the season.

A fumble on the next Saint Xavier possession gave Marian great field position after PJ Huff pounced on the loose ball, and with 7:21 to play in the first half, Ashton Vogel buried a career-long 48-yard field goal, securing a 17-0 lead.

The lead held at 17 points going into halftime, as Marian came up short in adding to their lead despite possessing the ball three times before halftime. The defense did their part to preserve the shutout, forcing a pair of punts and a missed field goal in the closing seconds of the quarter. Samirion Ford helped win field position with deflecting one of the two Cougar punts prior to halftime.

Coming out of the locker room with a 17-0 lead, Marian quickly put points on the board, with Darian Dixon scoring a defensive touchdown for the second consecutive week. Dixon intercepted a screen pass at the 10-yard line, and waltzed into the end zone, adding seven to the board in the first 54 seconds of the second half. A stand from the defense brought the offense on the field for the first time in the quarter, and on the fourth play of the series, Polk completed the 75-yard drive with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Aidan Wanner. 

Polk would go on to throw a second touchdown pass in the quarter to Montasi Clay 45 seconds prior to the end of the period, giving Marian a whopping 38-0 advantage after three quarters. 

In the fourth quarter, the offense put the final score on the board, with Hunter Newman ripping a 66-yard touchdown run up the Saint Xavier sideline, bringing the Marian score to 45 points. 

Jaxson Scruggs sealed the shutout in the final two minutes, intercepting a pass at the goalline to slam the door shut on the final Cougars drive, closing out Marian's 45-0 shutout victory.

Tristan Polk accounted for three total touchdowns on the day, throwing for two in his 153-yard day, while running for another. Keagan La Belle ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Hunter Newman had 72 rushing yards to go with a score. Jake Reichard finished the day with a team-high four catches and 59 yards, while Aidan Wanner and Montasi Clay each had a receiving score.

Defensively, the Knights had three takeaways, with Logan Carrington, Darian Dixon, and Jaxson Scruggs each getting a takeaway. Cade Houseman led the team in tackles with nine and two TFL's, while Deaon Pettiford was five Knights to record sacks in the win. 

Dixon is the first Knight this decade to record a defensive touchdown in consecutive games, having scored both a fumble and interception return touchdown in the past two weeks. 

The NAIA Selection Show will air on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. The show can be viewed on the NAIA YouTube channel, linked above. Marian will earn an automatic bid into the postseason for the first time since 2019, with the Knights having won the MSFA Midwest Title. 

Marian will be a candidate to receive a bye through the first weekend of the NAIA Football Championship Series, and will be in line to host in the FCS Second Round on November 29.

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