St. Francis wraps up home season with win over Menlo
From Submitted Reports November 3, 2012 11:40PM
Updated: December 5, 2012 6:38AM
JOLIET — University of St. Francis concluded its home season and secured its third consecutive winning season with a 31-21 victory over Menlo College in nonconference football action Saturday night at ATI Field.
St. Francis (6-4) scored the first points of the game early in the opening quarter when sophomore safety Jesse Hogan blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone. Hogan also made an interception later in the game.
E.J. White scored from 20 yards out on a quarterback keeper to cap a six-play, 71-yard drive early in the second quarter to give the Saints a 16-0 lead at halftime.
On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter,junior tailback Anthony Hubert broke loose for a 79-yard touchdown run. For the third time on the night, USF converted a two-point PAT to make the score 24-0.
St. Francis entered the contest leading the NAIA with seven 2-point PATs on the year.
The Saints scored their final points when White and senior wideout Desmond Page hooked up on a 16-yard pass play with 2:55 left in the third quarter.
Menlo made a late charge, scoring 21 unanswered points in the final stanza.
Quarterback Matt Pelesasa scored the Oaks’ first touchdown on a 3-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Matt Alexander then scored on a 6-yard scamper four minutes later to trim the Saints’ lead to 31-14 at the 10:21 mark.
Menlo added a late touchdown when Pelesasa found Robert Adanin the corner of the end zone with :15 showing on the clock.
White completed 6 of 13 attempts for 43 yards to become USF’s all-time leader in completions (571) and yard passing (6,611). He also rushed for 75 yards on 8 attempts.
Hubert gained 108 yards on 16 carries to notch his third 100-yard effort of the season and seventh of his career.
The Saints, who finished the year 4-2 at ATI Field, outgained Menlo 315-309 for the game, but 146 of the Oaks’ yards came in the fourth quarter with St. Francis well in command. Menlo’s Jake Fohn rushed for 121 yards on 17 attempts.
Sophomore Jeff Cascella led the USF defense with three sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss.
USF wraps up its 2012 campaign next Saturday at Mid-States Football Association Midwest League rival St. Ambrose University.
Men’s basketball
St. Francis 86, Huntington 60: JOLIET – Sophomore Chris Miller scored a game-high 28 points, 18 of them in the first half, to lead St. Francis over Huntington at the Sullivan Center. Miller connected on 8-of-12 attempts from the floor in the first half to help the Saints (1-1) build a 33-28 edge at the break. USF outscored the Foresters (0-1) 19-5 during the first 4:20 of the second stanza to increase its lead to 52-33. Andrew Lerg finished with 16 points for St. Francis, while Billy Hubly and Mark Peters added 13 and 10, respectively.
