Adrian College, Siena Heights football head to Indiana this week
Both Adrian College and Siena Heights football will be heading into Indiana this week, looking to get to .500 in league play.
Both games kickoff Saturday at 1 p.m. Here's what to know for their matchups:
SIENA HEIGHTS
SHU knows how to hit the road.
The Saints will be playing their fourth road game in five weeks on Saturday when they travel to Indiana to play Saint Francis.
SHU head coach Matt Kohn said his veteran teams are very business-like when it comes time to load the bus.
“I like the way this team travels,” he said. “We take veteran group with us on the road. They are super professional. They know what to expect, they don’t stay up late … it’s a great group to have for this team with us making so many road trips right now.”
SHU will bring a 2-2 record into Saturday’s game. The Saints are coming off a 48-12 loss to No. 4 ranked Indiana Wesleyan in their Mid-States Football Association Mideast League opener.
Miscues plagued SHU in the first four games of the season. The quarterbacks have combined to throw eight interceptions and the team has lost four fumbles – equaling 12 turnovers in four games. They are also averaging eight penalties for 75 yards a game.
Starting quarterback Elijah Taylor, a transfer from Wayne State, threw three picks and fumbled once in the loss to Indiana Wesleyan. He was sacked twice.
Saint Francis is also 2-2. They beat Madonna 44-9 Saturday and are 1-0 in the MSFA Mideast. It brings a two-game win streak into Saturday’s game.
Saint Francis is led by quarterback Grant Gremel, who is completing 55 percent of his passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns. The top running backs on the team are David Smith (22 carries for 159 yards) and Cam Peterson (20 carries for 122 yards). They have a couple of big play receivers, including Adjaye Dandridge, who has caught two touchdowns and is averaging 28.5 yards per catch. Saint Francis also has a solid kicker in Aidan Hosler.
The Cougar defense had eight sacks against Madonna last week.
Saint Francis has been road warriors themselves this season, playing each of the past three weeks on the road.
ADRIAN
It's a rivalry week for the Bulldogs as they'll play for Black and Blue Border Brawl trophy at Trine in Angola, Indiana.
Adrian (1-4, 0-1 MIAA) was outscored 20-7 in the second half to fall 31-20 as Hope College took a 23-17 lead early in the fourth quarter and the defense held tough the rest of the game.
Mark Lopez, the true freshman quarterback out of Corpus Christi, Texas played well, completing 11-of-22 passes for 193 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. Salvatore Patierno rushed for 106 yards and Keontae Townsend caught seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
The defense gave up 499 yards of total offense, 211 in the air and 288 on the ground.
Trine is 2-3 on the season and lost the MIAA opener at defending champions, Alma, 70-30.
Both offenses went for more than 530 yards and the Thunder were picked off four times, which is good news for an Adrian defense with eight interceptions this season. Chaun Tolbert has three, AJ Pipkins has two and Waides Ashmon, Ryker Bidwell and Andrew Thomas all have one.
Senior Alex Price is under center for Trine and has thrown for 1,650 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and is joined in the backfield by senior running back Xaine Kirby with 401 yards and four touchdowns. Price has a trio of go-to seniors with Brandon Kline (440 yards, 28 receptions, seven touchdowns), Kale Lawson (374/25/4) and Connor Arthur (355/19/2).
Trine's defense averages 445.4 yards allowed per game and only have four takeaways all season.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian College, Siena Heights football head to Indiana this week
