Late touchdown lifts Saint Francis over Yellow Jackets

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Defiance Yellow Jackets overcame a halftime deficit and led in the fourth quarter until the Saint Francis Cougars orchestrated a game-winning touchdown drive with three minutes left, resulting in a 37-34 loss for the Jackets at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets (2-2) fell for the second straight game on the road but battled the Cougars (3-1) for all 60 minutes. Saturday's MSFA crossover game was the second game in a row facing a nationally-recognized program with Saint Francis receiving votes in last week's NAIA Top 25.

Defiance trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter but scored quickly on their first possession of the final stanza. The drive was fueled by a 41-yard reception by Tristan Thomas that set up a four-yard scoring run by quarterback Ethan Thanthanavong. The Jackets tried for two points to tie the game, but the run failed. The DC defense got the ball back to the offense with a 3-and-out by Saint Francis. The Purple and Gold took the lead five plays later when Thomas caught a 64-yard pass from Thanthanavong, pushing the score to 34-30 after Carson Marroquin's made PAT.

The Cougars responded with an eight-play, 72-yard scoring drive that proved to be the game winner. Cougars quarterback Joshua Kulka had lengthy passes to Crosley MacEachen for 33 yards and Chris Mullen for 14 yards to put Saint Francis in striking distance. After a pair of strong runs by Azariah Wallace and another short Kulka pass, Chris Mullen took a handoff into the endzone from three yards away to capture the upper hand for good.

The Jackets had time to respond but went 4-and-out to give the Cougars the ball in Defiance territory inside of two minutes to play. Saint Francis played conservatively and had a 4th and 4 play that drew DC offsides to ice the home win.

Defiance trailed 17-10 at halftime and also held a lead for a majority of the first half. Damon McCracked gave Defiance a big jolt to start the second half when he picked off Kulka and returned the ball 16 yards for a touchdown. However, the Cougars blocked the PAT to hold on to the lead.

The two squads also traded scores at the end of the third quarter to set up the dramatic final 15 minutes. Cooper Sloan found the endzone for Defiance on a 5-yard pass from Thanthanavong, but Wallace responded for a 57-yard Cougars touchdown three plays later. DC's special teams made a critical play following the long score with a blocked PAT to keep the Cougars within one score. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ethan Thanthanavong had a strong showing at quarterback with his second game of at least 250 passing yards. He finished with 257 yards on 50-percent completions and added three touchdown passes, plus a rushing score.
• The touchdown pass to Tristan Thomas that went for 64 yards was DC's longest pass play of the season.
• Cooper Sloan's touchdown catch in the third quarter was the senior's second score of the season and the sixth of his career.
• The Yellow Jackets rushed for a season-low 88 yards led by Cameron Turner with 28 yards on the ground. Thanthanavong had the most carries on the afternoon with 11.
• Defiance forced two turnovers, both on interceptions. Jay Graves snagged his first of the year during the first quarter that led to the first score of the game. The other was Damon McCracken's pick-6 in the third.
• Damon McCracken had a stellar performance on defense with a team-best nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and the interception return.
• As a team, Defiance has 12 tackles for loss and limited the Cougars' passing game to a season-low 185 yards.

UP NEXT
Defiance hosts homecoming at Justin F. Coressel Stadium next Saturday with the Yellow Jackets hosting the Saint Xavier Cougars. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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