Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007

  FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- University of Saint Francis QB Jeff  Wedding threw for three TD passes and teammate Daniel Carter scored two TDs and racked up 321 all-purpose yards in the Cougars' 69-29 Homecoming win over Taylor University on Saturday.

   USF, ranked No. 5 in this week's NAIA Top 25, trailed early 7-0, but the Cougars scored the next 49 points to secure control of their 42nd consecutive win at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium for more than 3,000 fans on a perfect weather day for college football.

   Carter finished with a team-leading 76 yards rushing including a 19-yard TD run. He added 66 yards receiving on two receptions, one a 60-yard TD. And though he didn't score, he finished with 179 kickoff return yards with a longest of 65 yards. USF WR Bo Thompson caught two TD passes, 60 yards from Wedding and 9 yards from Shaine Tierney, and led USF receivers with 160 yards on eight receptions.

   USF (5-1, 2-1 MSFA MEL) forced TU (2-5, 0-3 MSFA MEL) into a 3 and out, but the Trojans sandwiched Wedding into a fumble and TU recovered at the USF 24-yard line. Greg Eaglin motored around the left side for an 8-yard TD on the second play of the possession and Nick Davis kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 12:54 to play in the first quarter.

   After TU forced a USF 3-and-out, the USF defense kick-started the offense when Paul Carter III intercepted his 17th career pass at the USF 41. USF tied the game at 7 marching 59 yards on nine plays concluding on a Wedding to Jeremiah Wood 9-yard TD pass. Rhys Barnhart knotted the score with the PAT and 6:43 to play in the quarter. Wedding to Daniel Carter for a 60-yard TD put USF in the lead for good with 2:32 to play and Paul Carter made it 21-7 when he blocked a Cameron Heasley punt and picked it up for 28-yard TD.

  Wedding finished 7-for-13 passing for 191 yards. Tierney finished 9-for-12 passing for 114 yards and two TDs. Jordan Wise finished 6-for-13 with an interception for 60 yards and the freshman QB added 75 yards rushing.

   USF travels to Canton, Ohio next Saturday to play 27th-ranked Walsh University at noon.

-- GO USF --