Venue & Game Details
- Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM CDT
- Venue: Joliet Memorial Stadium, Joliet, Illinois
- Capacity: ~6,600
- Conference: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League
- Event: St. Francis Homecoming Game
Weather Forecast (Joliet, IL)
- Kickoff Temperature: ~22°C (72°F), cooling into the mid-60s by evening
- Conditions: Partly sunny with scattered clouds
- Wind: 12–16 km/h from the west
- Precipitation:
- Impact: Excellent football weather; minimal disruptions expected
Injury Report
- Madonna Crusaders:
- QB group healthy; starter expected to play after a 7–21 loss to Saint Xavier (Sept 20).
- WR corps intact, including top target who had 100+ yards vs. Olivet (Sept 13).
- OL depth slightly tested after early-season injuries.
- St. Francis Fighting Saints (IL):
- QB group healthy; starter threw for 2 TDs in a 42–28 win over Lawrence Tech (Sept 20).
- RB rotation intact, with one back averaging 80+ yards per game.
- Secondary missing one rotational player (undisclosed).
(Note: NAIA programs release limited injury info; updates closer to kickoff may adjust this.)
Key Player Matchups
- Madonna QB vs. St. Francis Secondary
- Madonna has leaned on its passing game, but turnovers have been costly.
- St. Francis’ secondary has forced multiple interceptions in early-season play.
- St. Francis QB vs. Madonna Defensive Front
- St. Francis QB threw 3 TDs in their Week 3 win over Lawrence Tech.
- Madonna’s defense has allowed 28+ points in 2 of 3 games.
- Special Teams Edge
- St. Francis kicker has been reliable from mid-range.
- Madonna has struggled in punt coverage, giving up long returns.
Recent Team Form
- Madonna Crusaders (1–2)
- L 13–46 @ Olivet Nazarene (Sept 6)
- W 45–28 @ Olivet College (Sept 13)
- L 7–21 @ Saint Xavier (Sept 20)
- Strengths: Passing game can produce explosive plays.
- Weaknesses: Defense has allowed 28+ points in two losses.
- St. Francis Fighting Saints (IL) (1–2)
- L 28–45 @ Taylor (Sept 6)
- L 21–24 @ Siena Heights (Sept 13)
- W 42–28 vs. Lawrence Tech (Sept 20)
- Strengths: Balanced offense, opportunistic defense.
- Weaknesses: Inconsistent run defense.
Conference vs. Conference
- Both teams are MSFA Mideast League rivals.
- This is the conference opener for both programs.
- Madonna is in its fifth season of football and still building its program.
- St. Francis is a long-established NAIA program with playoff history.
Series History
- All-time series: St. Francis leads.
- Last 3 meetings: St. Francis has won all three.
- 2024 season: St. Francis defeated Madonna 38–14 in Livonia, MI.
- Trend: St. Francis has consistently controlled the rivalry, especially at home.
Betting Trends
- Madonna:
- 1–2 ATS in 2025
- 1–6 ATS in last 7 MSFA games
- 3 of last 4 games have gone Under
- St. Francis (IL):
- 1–2 ATS in 2025
- 4–1 ATS in last 5 vs. Madonna
- 3 of last 4 games have gone Over
Historical Betting Results
- 2024: St. Francis -6.5 covered in a 38–14 win (Under cashed).
- 2023: St. Francis -7.5 covered in a 31–17 win (Under cashed).
- 2022: St. Francis -10.5 covered in a 35–20 win (Over cashed).
Game Odds
Madonna (MI) Crusaders 50.5
U-St. Francis Fighting Saints – 7
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
