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CHICAGO – The No. 15 UIndy football team (1-1) endured its first loss of the season Saturday night, coming up on the short end of a 19-14 final score at Saint Xavier (2-0).  In the teams' second-ever meeting, UIndy amassed exactly the same total yardage as the Cougars, but the Greyhounds finished with an uncharacteristic three turnovers, compared to zero from SXU.
 
UIndy racked up two turnovers and seven penalties in the first half alone.  The Cougars generated nine of its 12 first-half points directly after the Hounds' TOs, including a 29-yard touchdown run by Khary Ferguson in the first quarter.
 
The compound matters, No.1-receiver Reece Horn succumbed to injury in the first and did not return.
 
Later, SXU had pair of 1st-&-goal situations in the final minutes of the second half but managed just a field goal on each occasion.  On 3rd & goal during the Cougars' latter trip to the red zone, freshman Dillon Dallas wrapped up quarterback John Rhode behind the line of scrimmage to force a kick.
 
UIndy's lone first-half score came midway through the second quarter when sophomore Andrew Walker managed a hard-earned, five-yard touchdown rush.  It marked the first collegiate TD for the Chicago native.
 
Trailing 12-7 after one half of play, the turnover bug again bit the Greyhounds at the start of the third quarter.  On the first play from scrimmage after the break, the Cougars forced a Greyhound fumble and recovered it on the UIndy 24-yard line.
 
The Greyhounds defense again stepped up, however, forcing a three-and-out and a field goal attempt.  The UIndy special teams followed suit as senior Andre Smith got a piece of the 37-yard try to turn the Cougars away without any points.
 
The teams traded lengthy touchdown drives later in the quarter.  After 12-play, 63-yard scoring drive by SXU to make it 19-7, UIndy answered by marching 70 yards on nine plays.  The series was capped by a nine-yard hook-up between QB Connor Barthel and WR Logan Young to pull the Hounds within five.
 
The third quarter ended with the score 19-14, but there it would stay.  UIndy had three possessions in the final period but could not cash in.  Meanwhile, senior Scott Miller pinned SXU deep with three stellar punts in the frame, including one that was downed at the one-yard line, but the Cougars milked the final 6:18 seconds of the game thanks to three successful third-down conversions.
 
One of nine UIndy players from Chicago to make the trip, Kevin Teglia amassed career highs with seven catches for 62 yards in his homecoming.  Senior Matt Ripp led the Hounds in rushing with 57 yards on 13 carries.  Barthel finished 18 for 33 for 156 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
 
Senior safety John Strickland compiled 15 total tackles, including one for a three-yard loss.  Sophomore linebacker Rob Dury matched him with a personal-high 15 tackles, fellow-LB Jake Grossnickle added 13 stops, while sophomore d-lineman Tommy Taylor had a fourth-quarter sack and a blocked extra point.
 
The Hounds have yet another road game on deck, its third in a row.  UIndy travels to GLVC-newcomer Southwest Baptist Saturday, Sep. 20 for the conference opener.

 
Notes: Saturday's final marked the first time the Hounds lost a game when allowing less than 20 points since a 19-3 defeat at Ashland Oct. 31, 2009 … Saint Xavier was ranked 16th in the NAIA Top 25 poll ... Long-snapper Alex Bobs was credited with his first career tackle late in the second quarter ... UIndy defeated SXU, 51-20, in Indianapolis last season in the teams' only other meeting.