JOLIET, Ill. - A mishandled punt snap, a high punt snap and a 50-yard field goal by Marian University (IN) in the final minute of the game all spelled doom for University of St. Francis as the Fighting Saints dropped their 2009 opener by a 27-24 score Thursday night in front of 1,500 fans at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

The Saints, coming off a 7-4 record in 2008 which marked the program's first winning season since 1991, got the game and the season off to a roaring start with a pair of long touchdown passes from senior quarterback John Goolsby (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) to senior wide receiver Ponce Palmer (MacArthur H.S./Findlay, IL) in the first 12 minutes of the game. The duo hooked up for a 69-yard scoring play down the left sideline on USF's first possession to take a quick 7-0 advantage. Two possessions later, the same pairing connected from 80 yards out down the right sideline and the home crowd was buzzing with a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Marian, though, finally got its offense untracked in the second quarter and the Knights put together an 8-play, 74-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown sneak by quarterback Matt Rogers to slice the USF lead in half to 14-7.

The Saints made their first big miscue on their next possession when freshman punter Patrick Wright (Providence Catholic H.S./Lemont, IL) bobbled the deep snap from center and then tried to get the kick away only to have it blocked by Marian and recovered by the Knights at the USF 11 yard line.

It took Marian just three plays to cover those 11 yards and tie the game up at 14-apiece with 6:14 left before halftime.

After a three-and-out series by USF, Marian again drove deep into Saints' territory. The Knights capped off a 17-play, 58-yard march with a 20-yard field goal by Martin Waddick as time expired and the visitors carried a 17-14 lead into halftime.

St. Francis took the second-half kickoff and promptly drove 46 yards in eight plays and tied the game at 17-17 on a 23-yard field goal by Wright less than four minutes into the second half.

But the Saints' punting unit again misfired and Marian made USF pay dearly for the mistake. This time it was deep snap that sailed over Wright's head and rolled all the way back to the USF 14-yard line where the Knights recovered and started a short scoring drive. It took Marian just three plays to find the end zone and go back in front by a 24-17 score with 4:18 left in the third quarter.

USF bounced back, though, and put together its best scoring drive of the night. The Saints marched 60 yards in 17 plays and tied the game when backup quarterback Matt Ladd (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) came in on fourth down and scampered around right end before diving into the end zone from 2 yards out. Wright's conversion made it 24-24 with 12:52 left in the game.

The teams then exchanged punts two times before Marian got the ball at the USF 42-yard line with 2:40 left in regulation. The Knights managed to get one first down and got the ball down as far as the USF 31. But the USF defense stiffened and pushed Marian back to the 33 where the Knight were faced with a fourth down and 12 with just 26 seconds left on the clock.

The Knights had a strong wind at their back and elected to let Waddick, a true freshman, attempt to win the game from 50 yards away. Waddick's low kick sailed toward the goalpost and had just enough help from the wind to clear the crossbar and put the Knights ahead. It was the longest field goal in Marian's short, three-year football history.

The Saints had one last opportunity but a 15-yard completion was followed by an incompletion as time expired.

The Saints won most of the statistical battles despite losing the game. USF notched 320 yards of total offense, with 239 of it coming through the air. Goolsby completed 9-of-23 passes for those 239 yards and had no interceptions. The 80-yard strike to Palmer for the second touchdown was the second-longest passing play in USF history. The 69-yarder for the first score was the seventh longest in the school's history books. Those were Palmer's only two catches of the game but his 149 receiving yards easily led the team.

Junior tailback Javon Stewart (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) led the Saints' rushing attack with 78 net yards on 19 attempts. Redshirt freshman Connor Krisch (Joliet Catholic Academy/Plainfield, IL) toted the ball 12 times for 34 yards.

Junior linebacker Brenton Valentine (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) led the USF defense with 14 total tackles, including 7 solos. Senior linebacker Dan Heimerdinger (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) added 12 stops and also had 7 solos.

The Saints remain at home next week and will play for the second consecutive Thursday night. USF plays host to NAIA No. 17 Saint Xavier. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Joliet Memorial Stadium. USF upset the No. 8 Cougars by a 24-21 score in Chicago last Sept. 11.