Box Score

The Malone University football team suffered a 47-10 loss Saturday afternoon in its road match-up with the University of Saint Francis (IN).  The Cougars, ranked 12th in the most recent NAIA National Poll, took a commanding 40-3 lead into the locker room at halftime after making big plays on both sides of the ball through the first two quarters.  Saint Francis scored first-half touchdowns on a 78-yard run, a 56-yard pass, a 21-yard interception return and a 20-yard fumble recovery.  Malone got some big plays of its own in the second half with a blocked field goal and a 61-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Szpor to wide receiver Justin McLean.  However, it was not nearly enough to overcome the sizable halftime deficit.  The Pioneers' overall record slipped to 3-5 following the tough defeat while USF improved to 5-2.

Cougar quarterback Justin Boser got the scoring started midway through the first quarter, tossing a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Koby Frye to make the score 6-0 (PAT was no good).

After recovering a fumble deep in Saint Francis territory, Malone moved the ball to the Cougars' one-yard line.  USF was able to hold the Pioneers out of the endzone, though, as MU had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by kicker Nick Allison, making the score 6-3. 

Malone then looked to take the lead after forcing a three-and-out on Saint Francis' next possession.  However, the momentum quickly swung back in the hosts' favor when defensive back Erick Humphrey picked off a Szpor pass and returned it 21 yards to the endzone. 

Following the “pick six” in the final minute of the first quarter, the Cougars blew the game wide open with four second-quarter touchdowns.  Running back Antoin Campbell broke off the 78-yard TD run on USF's first play of the second stanza.  Austin Coleman's 56-yard touchdown reception from Boser and Korre Torrell's 20-yard fumble recovery then made it 33-3 midway through the period.  Aaron Bettcher later concluded the first-half scoring by hauling in a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Miller.

Saint Francis' final TD came nine minutes into the third quarter as Boser notched his third TD throw of the day, this time on a 12-yard completion to wide out Bryce Thornton. 

Following the ensuing kickoff, McLean delivered the 61-yard touchdown catch, his fifth scoring play of 60 yards or more this season.  Prior to Saturday, McLean had also found the endzone on receptions of 94 and 81 yards and on kickoff returns of 99 and 90 yards.

In all, Saint Francis registered 452 total offensive yards in the contest, with 224 yards on the ground and 228 through the air.  Malone countered with 174 yards of offense, 90 rushing and 84 passing.  In addition to their edge in total yards, the Cougars also enjoyed an almost nine-minute advantage in time of possession (34:22-25:38) and did not allow the Pioneers to convert on any of their 16 third-down conversions. 

Running back Daryon Mosley totaled 85 rushing yards on 17 carries to pace the Malone ground game.  McLean tallied 148 all-purpose yards.  In addition to his big TD reception, he also posted three kickoff returns for 76 yards and returned two punts for a total of 11 yards.

Defensive lineman Frank McCormick had a big game for the Pioneer defense with a total of eight tackles, including 2.5 sacks.  Linebacker Brandon Commodore added six total tackles.  Defensive back Brandon Allison recovered a fumble and registered five tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

For Saint Francis, Boser completed nine of 15 passes for 118 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.  Campbell picked up 181 rushing yards on 16 carries, including the long TD run.  Thornton posted four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.  Linebacker Derek VandenBosch led the way for the Cougar defense with seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

Malone will be back in action next Saturday with a road contest against Notre Dame College (5-3 overall).  The game, which was originally slated for a 1:00 p.m. start, will now kickoff at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.  Fans that cannot be in attendance can catch all of the action on the Malone Sports Network (on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM and streaming live on the internet at www.thelight959.com).