Saint Francis Cougars football

Saint Francis Cougars football
First season1998
Head coachKevin Donley
26th season, 234–68 (.775)
StadiumBishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium
(capacity: 3,500)
Field surfaceSporturf
LocationFort Wayne, Indiana
ConferenceMid-States Football Association
All-time record224–58 (.794)
Playoff appearances19
Playoff record33–17
Claimed national titles2 (NAIA)
Division titles13
RivalriesMarian (IN) (rivalry)

The Saint Francis Cougars football program represents the University of Saint Francis in college football. The team competes in the Mideast League (MEL) of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA), which is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Kevin Donley has served as head coach since the inception of the program in 1998.[1] Saint Francis plays its home game at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Under Donley, the Saint Francis won consecutive NAIA Football National Championship in 2016 and 2017. The Cougars have won the MSFA's Mideast League 13 times and have made 19 appearances in the NAIA playoffs.

Season-by-season record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NAIA#
Saint Francis Cougars (Mid-States Football Association) (1998–present)
1998 Saint Francis 2–8 1–5 7th (MEL)
1999 Saint Francis 8–3 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA First Round 12
2000 Saint Francis 10–2 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal 6
2001 Saint Francis 9–2 5–1 T–1st (MEL) L NAIA First Round 14
2002 Saint Francis 11–1 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal 8
2003 Saint Francis 12–1 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Semifinal 4
2004 Saint Francis 13–1 7–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Championship 2
2005 Saint Francis 13–1 7–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Championship 2
2006 Saint Francis 13–1 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Championship 2
2007 Saint Francis 11–2 6–1 2nd (MEL) L NAIA Semifinal 4
2008 Saint Francis 12–1 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Semifinal 4
2009 Saint Francis 7–3 5–2 T–2nd (MEL) 17
2010 Saint Francis 10–2 6–1 2nd (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal 5
2011 Saint Francis 9–3 3–2 3rd (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal 7
2012 Saint Francis 9–3 4–1 T–1st (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal 6
2013 Saint Francis 9–3 5–1 1st (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal 6
2014 Saint Francis 6–5 4–2 3rd (MEL)
2015 Saint Francis 11–1 6–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Semifinal 4
2016 Saint Francis 13–1 5–1 2nd (MEL) W NAIA Championship 1
2017 Saint Francis 14–0 6–0 1st (MEL) W NAIA Championship 1
2018 Saint Francis 10–3 4–2 3rd (MEL) L NAIA Semifinal 3
2019 Saint Francis 7–3 4–2 T–2nd (MEL) L NAIA First Round 11
2020 Saint Francis 2–2 2–2 3rd (MEL) 17
Saint Francis: 221–52 116–23
Total: 221–52
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Program statistics

Statistic Saint Francis [Opponents]
Games played 271
Wins 220 51
Ties 0
Wins in championship game appearances 2 3
Home wins 123 28
Road wins 95 20
Neutral site wins 2 3
Home regular season wins 96 15
Road regular season wins 91 19
Home playoff wins 27 13
Road playoff wins 4 1
Neutral site playoff wins 2 3
Most consecutive wins 27 (2016-2018) 7 (1998)
Most consecutive regular season wins 54 (2001-2007) 7 (1998)
Most consecutive playoff wins 10 (2016-2018) 2 (2000-2001)
(2018-present)
Most consecutive home wins 56 (2002-2009) 3 (1998)
Most consecutive road/neutral wins 20 (2015-2018) 4 (1998)
Most points scored in a game by one team 84 (2000 - USF 84, Iowa Wesleyan 9) 71 (1998 - Tri-State 71, USF 27)
Most points scored in a game by one team in a loss 41 (1998 - Walsh 44, USF 41) 42 (2015 - USF 48, Taylor 42)
(2015 - USF 45, Marian 42)
Fewest points scored in a game by one team in a win 12 (2004 - USF 12, Georgetown 7) 7 (2018 – Concordia 7, USF 3)
Fewest points scored in a regular season game by one team 3 (2018 – Concordia 7, USF 3) 0 (Done 13 times,
most recently in 2017)
Fewest points scored in a playoff game by one team 0 (1999 - Georgetown 38, USF 0)
(2002 - Georgetown 24, USF 0)		 3 (Done 5 times,
most recently in 2018)
Most points scored in a game by both teams 98 (1998 - Tri-State 71, USF 27)
(2002 - USF 77, Quincy 21)
(2007 - USF 69, Taylor 29)
Fewest points scored in a game by both teams 10 (2018 – Concordia 7, USF 3)
Largest margin of victory 75 (2000 - USF 84, Iowa Wesleyan 9) 44 (1998 - Tri-State 71, USF 27)

References

  1. ^ Bansch, John (September 22, 1998). "St. Francis passes its initial tests by getting program off the ground". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. D6. Retrieved November 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.