Tenner Scores Fives Times as Lakers Win in Convincing Fashion Against Siena Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – After a slow start, the Roosevelt Lakers leaned heavily on the run game to win comfortably against the Siena Heights Saints on Saturday afternoon at Morris Field.  The 38-10 victory kicked off NAIA and MSFA play for the 2023 campaign. 

Siena Heights opened the game strong, intercepting a Luke Wilson pass and driving down the field to take a 7-0 advantage. After multiple drives for each team ended with no score, Tyler Tenner got the Lakers on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run. After a Joey Mahop interception on the first play of the next drive, Wilson connected with Tenner from eight yards out to give the Lakers their first lead of the game, 14-7.

The Lakers defense took over from there, forcing six turnovers, including two more picks by Mahop and a forced fumble by Jordan Payne that Jayden Olokun scooped and returned to put the Lakers back in Saints territory. Five plays later, Tyler Tenner scored for a third time, increasing the Roosevelt lead to 14 points at 21-7.

It was more of the same in the second half, as Stacey Terry intercepted a Saints pass and returned it for 35 yards to set up the Lakers attack deep in Siena Heights territory. A few plays later Keonta Nixon drew a defensive pass interference in the endzone to give Roosevelt first and goal from the two. Tenner would once again punch it in from the one-yard line two plays later to extend the Lakers lead to 28-10.

After RU forced another Saints punt, Luke Wilson connected with Keonta Nixon on a beautiful pass down the seam for a 39-yard gain to once again enter the red zone. The Lakers would have to settle for a field goal as Andrew Bucaro split the uprights from 28 yards out, increasing the RU margin to 31-10.

On the ensuing drive, the Saints were able to move the football into Roosevelt territory, but Stacey Terry intercepted his second Saints pass of the game, retuning it 48 yards to the 50-yard line. Wilson then completed a perfectly timed back shoulder fade to Nixon to get the Lakers inside the 10-yard line. Tenner scored on the very next play, his fourth touchdown on the ground and his fifth overall in the game to put the Lakers up 38-10.

As a team, Roosevelt dominated time of possession and turnover battle while rushing for 190 yards, including 169 from Tenner.

NEXT UP

Roosevelt hits the road for the first time this season, heading to Livonia, Michigan to take on the Madonna Crusaders in MSFA play. Opening kick is set for 12:00 PM on Saturday, Sept 16.