FORT WAYNE – Saint Francis has been down this hyperbole road before.
Two weeks ago, to be precise.
But instead of the Cougars playing host to No. 1 Saint Xavier, as was the case two Saturdays ago, this time No. 2 Marian ventures into Bishop D’Arcy Stadium for the NAIA Game of the Millennium, Part Deux.
“This is a first,” Saint Francis coach Kevin Donley said of his troops meeting the nation’s top two teams in the same season.
“Usually, with the way rankings go, it never happens,” Donley said. “This (Mid-States Football Association, Mideast League) conference, on this side, is so strong. The big three, they’re all right up there. Somebody had to lose a couple weeks ago. We came out on the short end. Didn’t play well the second half. Xavier’s good. Marian’s good. We’re good. So something’s got to give.”
An apropos final thought about giving, since Saint Francis, No. 2 at the time, gave up six turnovers in a 42-31 loss to Saint Xavier.
Now, the Cougars (4-1, 1-1 MSFA), who have fallen to No. 6, get a chance at redemption against No. 2 Marian (7-0, 2-0), which comes in with the NAIA’s top-ranked defense that has given up 4.9 points per game.
“They’ve got eight (defensive) starters back from a year ago,” Donley said. “They’re very well-coached. The defensive line is their strength. They’ve got good speed. They don’t do a lot of things, but what they do, they do very well.”
Saint Francis will be hamstrung to what it does well without its two fastest offensive players.
Wide receiver Austin Coleman and running back Frank Wolfe III will each be out with undisclosed injuries. Additionally, starting linebacker Solomon Grimes is also out with an injury.
“We just have to make sure we play the fundamentals of football, and to play assignment football,” sophomore defensive end Lance Carey said. “No mental errors, be where you’re supposed to be on the field and make the plays you’re supposed to make.”
Because the Cougars experienced a big-game atmosphere two weeks ago against Saint Xavier, Carey says this week’s game should feel more normal. And that could be a benefit.
“It prepares you a lot, just with the atmosphere of the crowd,” he said. “It was real exciting. We busted out new jerseys when we played Saint X, so that was a different thing. This time we know what we need to do. It’s more business, and we’re going to be ready to play. We’ll have a better feel of how to adjust to it; how to react to the excitement; how to handle the pressure. We’re a better team, more prepared.”
