Box Score
Box score

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich.-  The UIndy football team lost its second straight one-possession game, falling 24-20 at Saginaw Valley State Saturday.  The Greyhounds (3-4, 2-4 GLIAC) out-gained SVSU 369 to 266 but had a season-high three turnovers compared to zero from the Cardinals (3-4, 3-3).

After the opening kickoff, UIndy needed just under five minutes to force a three-and-out and then drive down the field for the game's first touchdown.

With freshman Chris Mills getting the start at QB, the offense looked sharp on its initial drive, covering 66 yards in just 3:21.  The Greyhounds didn't face a single third down on the series, one that ended in a 23-yard touchdown reception by Mar'Quone Edmonds, his team-high fifth on the season.

The Cardinals came right back with a scoring drive of their own.  During the drive, a pass inference call allowed SVSU to convert a key third down.  Two plays later, Jonathon Jennings found Nick Gallina for an 18-yard touchdown pass to setup the game-tying PAT.

Later, UIndy put together another nice drive, this time going 82 yards on 11 plays.  Facing fourth and goal from the half-yard line, the Greyhounds opted to go for it as junior QB and goal-line specialist Paul Corsaro relieved Mills for a play.  Corsaro took the snap and pushed the pile forward to break the plane and put UIndy back in front.

SVSU again answered immediately, tying it at 14 with a four-yard TD run from Ronnie Lark.

The Hounds then endured their second lost fumble of the day, giving the ball right back to SVSU.  Like it did after its first lost fumble, UIndy forced a three-and-out from the Cardinals.  However, this time Saginaw's punt pinned the Hounds back at their own six. 

The Greyhounds could not move the chains and were forced to punt themselves.  With punter Tyran Fakes standing in his own end zone, Saginaw Valley brought the pressure and forced a short punt to give its offense excellent field position.

SVSU started at the UIndy 16 and two plays later, earned first and goal at the one.  With their backs against the wall, the Greyhound defense stood firm, getting three straight stops and forcing a 20-yard field goal.  Though the kick was a moral victory for the UIndy D, it gave the Cardinals their first lead of the day at 17-14.

Out of the break, a short punt by the Greyhounds again gave the home team good field position.  The Cardinals drove 42 yards to the UIndy one, but a blitz on third down resulted in a sack by Nate Jackson and Tyler Peterman to force a field goal try.  The magnitude of the play was amplified, as the Cardinals missed the ensuing 30-yard attempt, keeping the Hounds within three.

After the teams traded punts, a 33-yard punt return from Ryan Forney gave the Greyhound offense the ball at midfield late in the third quarter.  However, five plays into the drive, a Mills pass went through a receiver's fingers and into the hands of defensive back Ja'Vae Ingraham, who took it 44 yards the opposite direction.

The pick set up a touchdown drive by the Cardinals, as Jennings punched it in from five yards on the first play of the fourth quarter, upping the lead to 24-14.

With the clock showing 8:09, UIndy began its first scoring drive of the the second half.  Five minutes later, UIndy covered 89 yards on eight plays – all passes – for its third TD of the day.  Mills was 7-for-8 on the drive, ending in a 24-yard strike to Forney.  However, Aaron Puntarelli missed the point-after try to force UIndy to need another touchdown to win.

Nine plays, three first downs and a pooch punt later, the Greyhounds got the ball back at the Cardinal 21 with just 15 ticks left.  Mills hit Forney across the middle for a 24-yard gain, but two incompletions followed as SVSU escaped with the win.

Mills was 22-of-40 with 282 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while Forney (pictured) finished with 143 all-purpose yards, including a season-high 92 yards receiving.  It marked the second straight game with a touchdown reception for the junior.

Though they didn't finish with particularly gaudy numbers, the Cardinals effectively implemented a mostly-option-style rushing attack.  SVSU racked up 196 yards on the ground, with 120 coming from Lark.  Saginaw was averaging 250 passing yards per game but only managed 70 yards through the air Saturday.

The UIndy defense amassed eight tackles for a loss, one short of its season high.  Max Davis, who came into the day ranked second in the GLIAC in tackles, had a season-high 18 stops.

Next week, UIndy makes its longest road trip of the season when it travels to the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Oct. 23.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern.


Notes:  Saginaw is the first UIndy opponent this year to not commit a turnover… Edmonds' five touchdown catches this year is the most by a Greyhound since current teammate Tyran Fakes hauled in nine in 2007…The Hounds have lost four fumbles over the past two weeks after not losing any in the first five games…The Cardinals are now a remarkable 50-10 at Wickes Stadium since 2000…Puntarelli's missed PAT in the fourth quarter was his first of the year.  He's now 19-for-20…UIndy came into the game ranked second in the nation in turnover margin but was -3 in the category Saturday…UIndy did not attempt a field goal for the first time this season…Mills' interception was his first on the year.  He had thrown 106 collegiate passes before being picked.