LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University football program fought hard against visiting Siena Heights University, but ultimately fell short 45-26 in a MSFA Mideast League showdown from Livonia Churchill High School.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Crusaders opened the game with the ball but were forced to punt by the Saints defense. It took just two plays for Siena Heights to get on the board. A 29-yard rush by Kaleb Jefferson set up a four-yard touchdown for him. After the PAT by Anthony Secchi, the score was 7-0. 

Later in the opening quarter, the Crusader defense stepped up and Carl Ware picked off a pass by Saints quarterback Hayden Lehmann. He returned it 28 yards untouched to the endzone for the touchdown. Following the PAT by William Stoyanovich, Madonna and Siena Heights were tied at 7-7. 

Siena Heights responded with a 10 play, 68-yard drive, capped off by a Lehmann touchdown pass to Eric Williams II. 

The Saints later extended their lead to 21-7 when Lehmann found Michael Guyton from 33 yards out with 10 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Madonna opened the second quarter in a big way. Quarterback Josh DePaulis hit D'Vonta Garrett for an 80-yard touchdown and made it 21-13. 

The Crusader defense stepped up again in the second quarter, and forced a Lehmann interception. This time it was Cortland Cochran who came away with the football. 

Madonna's offense took advantage of good field position and found the endzone to make it 21-19. DePaulis completed a 10-yard pass to DeMario Williams for the touchdown. 

Lehmann and the Saints fired back with a touchdown of their own to make it 28-19. The redshirt freshman quarterback found Jamon Benson II on a 26-yard screen pass for the score.

Siena Heights extended their lead to 35-19 when Jefferson rushed for his second touchdown of the day. It remained 35-19 heading into the halftime break.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle, as the only scoring play came on a 27-yard field goal by Secchi to make the score 38-19 Saints heading into the fourth. 

The Crusaders capped off an 11 play, 83-yard drive with an Arthur Brantley IV touchdown pass to Garrett for his second score of the afternoon, making the score 38-26 with a little more than 12 minutes remaining. 

Madonna was unable to get any closer however, and Siena Heights added another touchdown with under two minutes left and escaped with the victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• D'Vonta Garrett led the way for the offense, hauling in five catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns. 
• DePaulis completed 6-of-12 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while Brantley was 4-of-8 for 40 yards and a touchdown. 
• Jakel Davis had 13 total tackles for the defense, while Dalen Cobb had 12 total tackles. Will Fennema posted nine total tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. 
• Carl Ware and Cortland Cochran both had an interception, while Cochran also forced and recovered a fumble. 

UP NEXT:

Madonna hits the road to take on Taylor University at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 22nd. 

CONNECT WITH THE CRUSADERS: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
SUBSCRIBE/DOWNLOAD TEAM SCHEDULES: Download Center
DOWNLOAD THE NEW MOBILE APP: Google Play | iOS