Siena Heights football ready to get back on the field

ADRIAN – The NAIA college football season is only in its third week, but the Siena Heights University football team has already had its bye week. 

The Saints didn’t have a game in Week 2. So, after starting the season 0-1 with a loss to Olivet Nazarene, SHU is back on the field this week with the first home game of the season, a noon game today against Saint Xavier (Ill.). It is a Mid-States Football Association crossover game.  

“Our guys are so excited about being at home,” said SHU coach Matt Kohn. “We are looking forward to having our crowd back and having friends and family in the stands.” 

The Saints are not only welcoming back fans to the stadium, but a couple of key pieces to its football team. SHU was without three starters in Week 1, all due to COVID-19 contact tracing. All three returned to the team last Friday and were able to participate in practices while preparing for Saint Xavier. 

“We are happy to have them back, of course, but even more so just happy for them,” Kohn said. “They worked so hard in the off-season and earned their starting spots, then just a day or so before the season was to start, we had to tell them they couldn’t play. That was tough.” 

One of those players missing in Week 1 was Ryan Minor, who had earned the starting quarterback spot in training camp after battling with Hayden Lehmann. 

Lehmann started against Olivet Nazarene. He completed 9-of-22 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Kohn said Lehmann will start again this week as he was able to get most of practice reps.. 

“Hayden has earned the start,” Kohn said. “He’s improved a lot in the last couple of weeks.” 

The Saints will look to have a more explosive offense as it has its full stable of receivers back as well.  

Eric Williams, Kaleb Jefferson, Pianki Abdul-Hakiym, Kason Prather will be joined by Jalen Vanderbosch and Bobby Opalewski.  

“Jalen gives us a big-play threat,” Kohn said. “It’s nice to have him back out there. He gives us a different look.” 

Saint Xavier is coming off a 34-10 loss to the No. 14 University of Indianapolis in its opening game of the season. 

The Cougars threw the ball 50 times in Saturday’s loss to Indianapolis. Sophomore quarterback Stuart Ross was 30-for-50 with a career-best 306 yards and a touchdown in the loss. 

“He dropped back to pass probably 60 times,” Kohn said. “That’s what they do. They are a good football team. Indianapolis is ranked No. 12 in Division II. Saint Xavier jumped out to a 10-0 lead on them.” 

SXU had 389 yard of total offense. They also gave up 353 yards.  

Defensively, the Saints were stellar in the first week, especially junior linebacker Kole Murlin, who broke the school record by being in on 22 tackles in the contest. Another linebacker, Gabe Callery had an interception and had nine tackles. Antonio Simley had the other interception.  

This is only the fourth meeting between Siena Heights and Saint Xavier. The last meeting occurred five years ago when the Saints defeated Saint Xavier 30-29 at O'Laughlin Stadium. The Cougars have a 2-1 advantage in the series.