Box Score
Box score

INDIANAPOLIS-  Touchdown returns on interceptions from senior Collin Coffer (pictured) and freshman Koby Orris helped the UIndy football team to its third straight win with a 29-20 victory against Saginaw Valley State Saturday night at Key Stadium. The outcome created a three-way tie atop the GLIAC North Division standings, as UIndy, Saginaw Valley and Ferris State all sport 4-2 conference marks.

The resulting final score marked the Greyhounds' first home win versus Saginaw Valley since 1988 while also giving UIndy its first three-game winning streak in two years.

In a rollercoaster of a second half, the Greyhounds (5-2, 4-2 GLIAC) out-scored Saginaw 13-0 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.  After the Cardinals (4-2, 4-2) earned their first lead of the game early in the third quarter, the Greyhounds held the visitors scoreless for the final 25 minutes of play to setup the comeback.

UIndy started the game by scoring on each of its first three possessions – all Scott Miller field goals – and then got a 36-yard touchdown return on Coffer's second interception of the season.

After the Hounds tallied 16 of the game's first 19 points, the Cardinals ran off 17 unanswered to take a 20-16 edge shortly after halftime.

The Hounds continued to trail until early in the fourth quarter when junior Brenden Williams' eight-yard TD catch – his first of the season – recaptured the lead for good.

UIndy's offensive highlight may have come on a drive that resulted in no points at all for the home team.  Up nine with 11 minutes to play, the Hounds orchestrated a clock-killing 14-play, 55-yard drive.  Though it ended in a punt, the drive devoured all but 1:59 of the remaining time and left the Cardinals needing two scores to win.  The series saw the Hounds convert a 3rd and 12 with an 11-yard reception by senior Ryan Forney and a two-yard, fourth-down rumble by redshirt-freshman Matt Ripp.

The Greyhounds led the league in pass defense heading into the game, but with UIndy starting two true freshmen at the safety spots for the first time this season, the Cardinals took advantage by racking up 307 yards through the air.

But despite giving up touchdown passes of 79 and 49 yards, the defensive backfield remained opportunistic by combining for its second straight three-interception game.  Orris garnered two fourth-quarter picks, the first of which he took 45 yards to the house.

The night also featured the first turnover of the season for the Hounds.  UIndy had been the only NCAA team (all divisions) without a turnover in 2011, but sophomore quarterback Chris Mills was intercepted in the third quarter to mark the first turnover for the Greyhounds since week nine of last year.  Mills finished the game going 24-of-35 for 248 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receiver Ryan Forney amassed eight catches for 112 yards, while running backs Klay Fiechter and Joumeel McLaurine combined for 109 yards rushing.  Defensively, senior linebacker Mike Dum led all players with 13 total tackles.

UIndy remains in town to host Northern Michigan next Saturday.  Kickoff from Key is scheduled for 6 pm ET.