Santino Vitelli

Spectra Sports Reporter

The Siena Heights Saints dropped their homecoming football game 20-14 in 3OT to Olivet Nazarene. RB Caleb Goings starred for the Saints carrying the ball 36 times for 137 yards and one touchdown.

The scoring started for ONU not even 5 minutes into the game on a 1 yard run by RB David Payne.

The Saints offense seemed to be invisible in the first half. They gained only nine yards the entire first half.

The SHU defense kept them in the game the first half. ONU was looking as if they were going to go up 14-0. The defense forced QB Rico Prestia to fumble on a big hit by LB Chris Vann.

“The fact that our defense has proven themselves sbiancamento denti time and time again really speaks volumes” Freshman OL Tucker Whitley said. “Our defense thrives off momentum, and it was evident that they had the momentum the whole game.”

Olivet Nazarene missed on two field goal attempts in the first half. One was a botched snap, while the other was a missed 41 yard FG with 22 seconds left in the half.

The first half was a game of field position. The defense for SHU was stuck to defend a short field on nearly every possession.

The Saints managed to only be down 7-0 at halftime.

The second half was much different for the Siena Heights Saints and their offense.

“Though the scoreboard may not have shown it, the offense really took over the second half” Whitley stated.

On the first possession of the second half, the Saints managed to put together a six play, 68 yard drive. They fell short though, on a bizarre play, fumbling on the 1 yard line and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback for Olivet.

The score remained 7-0 until the 4^th quarter.

Late in the 3^rd quarter, CB Fred Butler made a great play, intercepting Prestia in the end zone.

That turnover led to a SHU touchdown. Two minutes into the fourth quarter, QB Matt King threw a dart over the middle to TE Donovan Campbell, who turned it into a 59 yard touchdown.

The game was tied at 7-7 after regulation.

In the first overtime, Goings finally found the end zone, scoring on a tough 13 yard run. Olivet’s RB Payne answered with another TD of his own.

After two missed kicks by both teams in the second overtime, it went to triple overtime. Caleb Goings fumbled for SHU and Payne scored yet another touchdown to win it for Olivet Nazarene.

The Saints have been used to playing overtime games all year. It was their third overtime game in six total games so far this year, and their second loss in overtime.

Siena Heights (3-3) hosts #6 Saint Xavier next week at 6 p.m. Saint Xavier is the defending national champion and should be a tough matchup for the Saints next week.

“The key to beating Saint Xavier will be a strong week of practice” Whitley noted.  “We don’t give up.  It’s not what we stand for, and I can guarantee that we never will.”