INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy football team endured a 38-16 home loss to defending NAIA national champ and No. 1-ranked Marian University Saturday night. Playing in front of 10,963 fans at Key Stadium, the crosstown rivals squared off in what was officially dubbed the "Monumental Matchup," named after the famed Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at the center of the city.

The loss marks an 0-2 start for UIndy, its first since 2012. That season, the Hounds went on to win 10 straight decisions, including their first-ever Division II playoff victory.
 
Sophomore quarterback Jake Purichia threw for 316 yards and a touchdown for the Greyhounds, with receiver Malik Higgins accounting for 198 yards on 12 catches – both career highs. A native of Evansville, Ind., Higgins also added 123 kick return yards, upping his all-purpose total to a gaudy 321, good for the highest such sum since Craig Cothron set the single-game program record at 364 yards in 1998.
 
The Greyhounds matched the visiting Knights (2-0) series-for-series through the first quarter-and-a-half, trailing by a only missed extra point through the opening 26 minutes.
 
After a big goal line stand by the UIndy defense forced an early Marian field goal, the Hounds used the deep ball to fuel each of its first two scoring drives. Higgins was on the receiving end during both possessions, hauling in a 38-yard pass to set up a 35-yard Brad Schickel field goal, followed by a 47-yard bomb to score the Hounds' first touchdown of the night.
 
Higgins' TD came on the first play of the second quarter, and after the missed PAT, Marian maintained a slim 10-9 advantage through most of the second stanza. The Hounds would not score again until midway through the fourth quarter, however, as the Knights managed 28 unanswered points to pull away.
 
Fighting an uphill field-possession battle all evening, the Greyhounds did not start a drive outside their own 32-yard line, with their starting field possession ending up 17 yards worse than their opponent's. A pair of lost fumbles also hurt the Hounds, both coming in the decisive third quarter.
 
The Knights (2-0) were led by the quarterback/wide receiver duo of Lucas Johnston and Krishawn Hogan – both Indy natives. Johnston threw for 309 yards and four scores, while Hogan caught 10 balls for 169 yards and two TDs.
 
Defensively, all three UIndy linebackers had 10-plus tackles for the second straight week, led by a career-high 18 stops and a sack from senior Derrick Bryant. Rob Dury had 14 tackles, followed by Aeneas White with 12 and Aaron Bruning with 10.
 
The Greyhounds return to the road for each of their next three weeks, starting with a trip to Bolivar, Mo., and Southwest Baptist University next Saturday, Sept. 17.