Indianapolis —- The 11th-ranked Marian University football team survived an upset-minded Madonna University in the Knights' 2026 home opener early Saturday, using Ashton Vogel's 35-yard field goal as time expired to push Marian to a 27-25 victory at Ascension St. Vincent Field.
TEAM STATISTICS
- Marian out-gained Madonna 563-244
- The Knights rushed for 300 yards to the Crusaders' 40 rush yards
- Marian held a 263-204 edge in passing yards
- The Knights gained 24 first downs to Madonna's 17
- Marian held a 31:47 to 28:13 lead on time of possession
- The Knights converted 9 of 16 (56 percent) third downs, while Madonna went 6-for-17 (35 percent) on third downs
- Marian had six fumbles, three of which were lost; Madonna threw the game's lone interception
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
- Jake Dunn was 14-for-27 for 262 yards and one touchdown in his first collegiate start
- Dunn added a team-best 72 yards on the ground on 11 carries
- Charles Vaden logged six catches for 147 yards; Montasi Clay added five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown
- Cade Houseman tallied a team-high nine tackles with a PBU
- Jeivyair Horton had two pass breakups and an interception
- Vogel made two of four field goals in the game, but drilled the game-winning 35-yarder for the win
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
- A 53-yard pass to Clay on a 3rd & 10 continued the opening drive of the game, allowing Uriah Buchanan to score on a one-yard plunge to go up 7-0
- The Knights forced a punt on its first defensive possession, but Madonna got the ball back on a fumble
- Madonna ran for 20 yards on its next possession to get just outside the red zone; the Crusaders settled for a 44-yard field goal to get on the board, trailing 7-3
SECOND QUARTER
- Marian's next offensive drive stalled and their 44-yard field goal attempt missed wide right
- Horton intercepted the Crusaders on the next possession to get the ball right back
- The teams traded punts before another field goal from Marian missed wide
- Vogel's third field goal try of the period proved successful, as his 39-yard put the Knights ahead 10-3
- Marian regained possession just before the end of the half, but their goal line possession came up empty in the final play of the opening half
THIRD QUARTER
- A 71-yard pass from Dunn to Vaden set up RJ Griffin's 12-yard touchdown run, as Marian extended its lead to 17-3
- Jamarrion Banks returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, as Madonna found the end zone for the first time in the game
- After Marian punted the Knights' defense forced a punt, but another fumble allowed Madonna to take over near midfield
FOURTH QUARTER
- Madonna punted again, but the Knights fumbled on the following possession
- A 35-yard pass play and a pass interference set the Crusaders inside the Marian 10-yard line
- Demetrick Welch took a pitch and then threw the ball on a halfback pass to Duke Coats to tie the game at 17
- Vaden took a 37-yard run and a personal foul put the Knights immediately at Madonna's 10-yard line
- Clay came down with a 50-50 ball in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown catch with five and a half minutes to go
- After it was originally ruled incomplete, Madonna's Coats' 31-yard grab was overturned, giving the Crusaders the ball deep in the Marian end
- Kolter Smith's QB keeper and the pass to Hassan Bazzi on the two-point conversion gave Madonna its first lead of the game, 25-24
- A 17-yard pass to Vaden on 3rd & 10 on the next drive sparked a Knights' drive that drove into the Madonna red zone
- Vogel's 35-yard boot as time expired flipped the lead to Marian's way in the final moments, 27-25
UP NEXT
- Marian takes a week off before returning to play on Saturday, Oct. 3, hosting Taylor University at Ascension St. Vincent Field at 1:05 p.m.
