LOUISVILLE, KY -- Bellarmine Sprint Football clinched a spot in the MSFL playoffs with a 26-14 senior day win over the Fontbonne University Griffins on the campus of St. Xavier High School.  With the win, the Knights imrpove to 6-0 on the season.

The Knights set the tone on the opening kickoff, as Derrik Gant returned the opening kickoff 64 yards to the Fontbonne 4 yard line.  Luke Worley ran it in from two yards out two plays later to give Bellarmine the early 7-0 lead.  After forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Bellarmine used chunk runs from their running backs to drive it down to the Griffins' 43 yard line where Worley hit Shannon Tonge for a 43-yard touchdown.  After a failed extra point, the Knights held a 13-0 advantage.

After forcing another three-and-out following a failed surprise onside kick attempt, a 42 yard pass from Worley to Gant once again had the Knights in the red zone.  A nine yard Rick Langarica rush brought Bellarmine down to the seven yard line and Worley hit Tonge in the end zone once again on the next play.  An Anikin Harris run failed on the two-point conversion attempt, and the score remained 19-0.

Fontbonne found their offensive groove on the next drive.  Following some chunk runs of their own, Temaj Taylor hit KJ Burns for a 38-yard touchdown pass and Trevor Patton rushed it in on the two point conversion to bring the Griffins to within 11 at 19-8.

A couple of possessions later, Fontbonne appeared to draw even closer with an 83-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to David Collins, but on the catch-and-run, Collins was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, negating the score.  Collins made up for it with a 24-yard reception that got Fontbonne into the red zone and the Griffins scored on a Taylor pass to Chris Reckel three plays later.  Fontbonne's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Knights' lead at 19-14.

Bellarmine's next drive got them to the Fontbonne 25, but an interception in the end zone ended their drive.  Lance Weiter responded with an interception of his own on Fontbonne's very next play, giving the Knights possession at the Griffins' 31 following a block in the back penalty.  Caiden Mellecker's 46 yard field goal came up just short at the buzzer, keeping Bellarmine's lead at five going into halftime.

After forcing a Fontbonne punt to start the second half, Bellarmine seized control of the game with a long, methodical drive that took over nine minutes off the clock.  Worley capped the drive off with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, giving the Knights a 26-14 lead.  Fontbonne responded with a drive into the red zone that stretched into the start of the fourth quarter, but Trevor Patton was stood up at the line of scrimmage by Caleb Murray and Jordan Haywood to give the ball back to the Knights' offense.

Bellarmine's ensuing drive stalled at their own end and Mellecker's punt was partially deflected, giving the Griffins the ball inside Knights' territory.  The defense stood up once again however, as Isaiah Delaquis intercepted a Taylor pass and returned it to the Fontbonne 30 yard line.  Bellarmine's offense couldn't take advantage of the great field position, punting the ball back to the Griffins after a false start penalty. 

Bellarmine's defense was able to force another punt after a sack by Haywood and Michael Miller pinned them back at their own five.  Taking over at the Fontbonne 35, the Griffins sacked Worley on fourth down to give the Fontbonne offense one last chance.  Fontbonne drove it into Bellarmine territory again, but Delaquis came up with his second interception of the day to seal it for the Knights.

Worley finished 7-of-18 through the air with two rushing and two passing touchdowns.  Langarica led the Knights on the ground with 93 net yards on 22 carries.  Tonge scored touchdowns on both of his receptions, totaling 50 receiving yards.  Gant led all Bellarmine receivers with three catches for 57 yards.

Defense played a major role in the Knights' victory, with three interceptions nine sacks recorded on the day.  Haywood and Allan Ho led the team with two total sacks apiece.  Miller and Luke Jackson also each recorded one total sack.  With the multiple sacks, Fontbonne was limited to six net rushing yards.  Bellarmine racked up 283 total yards, including 161 on the ground.

Bellarmine will wrap up their regular season with a road game against Quincy University next Saturday, November 4.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.