INDIANAPOLIS - Seeing the lead change hands seven times in the final 17 minutes on Saturday, the Marian football team completed a come-from-behind upset victory against No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan by a high-octane 52-42 count. Marian got the go-ahead touchdown from Tristan Polk with 45 seconds remaining, and iced the game on a Yassine Falke pick-six as the Knights exact their revenge on the Wildcats to move to 3-1 on the season.

Marian had a strong start to the game, jumping out in front 10-0 on Indiana Wesleyan in the first quarter. The Knights' defense threw the first punch after Marian punted on their first offensive possession, shutting down the Wildcats' first series with a fourth-down stand in the red zone. Marian got in a groove on their second series with Keagan La Belle pacing the team to midfield, and after the strong runs, Tristan Polk hit Aidan Wanner on a 51-yard touchdown, striking first on the scoreboard.

Wanner's first career touchdown was followed by a defensive three-and-out, which Marian would use to turn into points as Kenny Curry converted a career-long 49-yard field goal.

The hot start came to a screeching halt in the second quarter, as Indiana Wesleyan found a groove and gashed Marian's defense for 21 unanswered points. The Wildcats opened the second quarter with a touchdown run from Ayden Ewing, and after penalties marred the ensuing Marian series, Cameron Morrison plunged in for the go-ahead score for IWU. The Wildcats finished their scoring montage with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Arjun Lothe to Isaac Smith, taking advantage of a missed 50-yard field goal from Curry. 

The 21-point surge occurred in less than nine minutes, immediately putting Marian's backs against the wall. The offense could not match points on their final two series of the half, as a punt and a missed field goal saw the Knights enter the locker room playing from behind 21-10.

After making halftime adjustments, the Knights' defense made the first of many explosive second half plays, forcing a fumble to end Indiana Wesleyan's first offensive touch of the third quarter. Luke Swartz and Deon Pettiford made the big hit to knock the ball loose, while Yassine Falke pounced on the loose ball to ignite the offense. Polk engineered an 11-play touchdown drive following the turnover, hitting Ben Uran three times for 53 yards on the series before Keagan La Belle finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown. The defense quickly forced a punt, and Marian responded with the first of four go-ahead touchdowns, as the offense marched 65 yards on seven plays, ending the series with Alijah Price's first career touchdown run.

Price's touchdown with 1:27 to play in the third quarter gave Marian a 24-21 lead; however, the lead would be short-lived, with Indiana Wesleyan quickly responding with a 78-yard touchdown pass from Lothe to Blake Brumbaugh. Marian entered the fourth quarter trailing by 28-24 following the long touchdown.

Each team traded punts to start the fourth quarter, with Marian getting the ball at the Wildcat 31 following a strong Charles Vaden return. Starting possession with 13:11 to play, Polk led another scoring drive for the Knights, ending the short-field series with a five-yard touchdown pass to Ben Uran. Uran's first career score gave the Knights a 31-28 lead, but as the nature of the second half showed, no lead was safe, as the Wildcats answered three minutes later with a 51-yard touchdown from Lothe to Brumbaugh.

The lead changed hands at 35-31 in favor of the Wildcats, but Marian immediately had an answer, as Tristan Polk hit Jake Reichard in stride three plays later on a 74-yard touchdown, giving Marian the lead once more. Now on top 38-35, Marian's defense did all they could to prevent an Indiana Wesleyan score, forcing a fourth and one as the Wildcats knocked on the red zone. The Wildcats were able to prevail after converting the fourth-down run from the 21, and two plays later, Cameron Morrison ripped another go-ahead score for Indiana Wesleyan, giving the visitors a 42-38 advantage.

Trailing by four with 1:43 to play in the game, Polk got the benefit of a big kick return from Alijah Price, needing to march 55 yards for the game-winning score. The senior quarterback connected with Reichard, Wanner, and Montasi Clay to march into Wildcat territory. Facing a third and five from the 29-yard line, Polk scampered 29 yards through the defense on a designed quarterback draw, plowing into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds remaining. 

Polk's go-ahead score would only be one-upped by his own team, as the next play from scrimmage, the Marian defense got in the scoring ledger, with Yassine Falke snagging a 29-yard pick-six to seal the game. Marian would force one final turnover as Logan Carrington picked off Lothe with two seconds remaining, as the defense made the final answer in the Knights' 52-42 upset victory.

In a game that saw 1040 combined yards of offense between the Knights and Wildcats, it was the Marian defense that made the impact plays in the win, forcing three second half turnovers that resulted in 21 points from takeaways. The defense was led in tackles by three players, with Wyatt Woodall leading the way with 12 stops. JT Downey and Cade Houseman each made 10 stops, and Isaiah Street had a season-best seven total tackles. Logan Carrington would record his fourth interception of the season, while Yassine Falke logged his second career pick-six, recovering two takeaways in the win.

On the offensive side of the ball, Polk netted 324 total yards of offense, passing for 261 while running for another 63. The senior quarterback threw for three touchdowns in a game for the second time in his career, and ran for one more to log his 14th career rushing score. Keagan La Belle ran for 140 yards and one touchdown, and Aidan Wanner was the leading receiver with 95 yards on three catches and a score. Jake Reichard finished 85 yards and one touchdown, and Ben Uran had a career-high five catches for 58 yards and his first career touchdown. 

Marian will be on the road for their next two games, opening October on the road at Madonna next Saturday. Kickoff from Livonia is set for 1:00 p.m.

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