INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) – Saint Francis football is going to remember the 2024 edition of the Franciscan Bowl for quite some time. Trailing 21-0 late in the first half, the Cougars rallied against their in-state rival in the final seconds with a 31-28 win.
Saint Francis gave up three touchdown drives throughout the first 20 minutes of the game. Just before halftime, Snider grad Lenny Bennett plowed in for a 4-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-7 at halftime.
Coming out of the break, Josh Kulka connected with Adjaye Dandridge for a pair of touchdown passes to tie the game at 21-21. Marian regained the lead early in the fourth quarter, and appeared to lock up the game after a goal line stand with less than five minutes left. However, the Cougars marched downfield to tie the game at 28-28 thanks to a Kulka touchdown pass to offensive lineman Jared Almeida.
Saint Francis’s defense forced a 3-and-out with just over a minute left. With a timeout in their back pocket, Saint Francis marched to Marian’s 10-yard line with eight seconds left on the clock. Norwell High School grad Austin De Leon drilled a game-winning 27-yard field to complete the Cougars’ comeback.