LATROBE, Pa. (Sept. 27)- The Saint Vincent football team fell to Hiram by a score of 40-38 in a high scoring Presidents Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday at Chuck Noll Field.

Saint Vincent (1-3, 0-2 PAC) recorded over 540 yards of total offense in the loss, however the Terriers (2-2, 1-1 PAC) capitalized on a few Saint Vincent turnovers and recorded over 550 yards of offense on their side to hand SVC their third consecutive loss.

Just as they have the first three weeks of the season, Jake Phillips and Chris Downs continued their strong connection to lead Saint Vincent. Phillips passed for 403 yards and five touchdowns, while Downs caught 156 of Phillips' yards and two touchdowns as well.

The Bearcats rushing attack was strong as well. Julian Walker led Saint Vincent with 86 yards on 11 carries. Matthew Davis rushed for 40 yards on five carries as well. 

Jamar Jones led the Bearcats with nine tackles, including six solo tackles in the loss for the Bearcats. Jake Hostetler added seven tackles, including seven solo tackles. Nathan Parker forced a fumble and recovered it, while recording three tackles.

Hiram got on the board quickly as the Terriers won the toss and took the ball. They took the ball down the field in just six plays and scored to jump on top of SVC 7-0.

Saint Vincent answered after a fumble recovery. On the ensuing play after the recovery, Phillips found Walker for a 56-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 going into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, Hiram got the lead right back with a 14-play 86-yard touchdown drive to regain a 14-7 advantage and that would remain the score going into the half.

The back-and-forth game continued as the Bearcats scored to open the half with an 8-play 68-yard drive ending in a Phillips nine yard touchdown pass to Downs. Justin Emeigh added the extra point to tie it at 14-14.

Hiram answered with another toucdown drive as the Bearcats found themselves trailing 20-14. On their ensuing offensive possession, the Bearcats took the ball into Hiram territory, ending the drive with a successful 37-yard field goal off the foot of Emeigh cutting the Terriers lead to 20-17 with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter.

The next several minutes belonged to Hiram. The Terriers scored 14 unanswered to go up 34-17 early in the fourth quarter over SVC.

The Bearcats began their comeback, answering Hiram with back-to-back scoring drives. On the first touchdown drive, Ian Tuffs caught a five yard touchdown from Phillips to cut the lead to 34-24. On the ensuing SVC offensive possession, Phillips found Tristan Doy for a 27-yard tocuhdown to cut the lead to three at 34-31 with 6:25 remaining the fourth quarter.

Hiram answered with an 8-play 65-yard touchdown drive that burned over four minutes off the clock to give the Terriers a 40-31 lead. SVC answered with another Phillips to Downs touchdown, this one from four yards out to cut the lead to 40-38.

The Saint Vincent defense forced Hiram into a fourth down on the following drive, but Hiram converted on the fourth and short to ice the game and hand Saint Vincent the home loss.

Saint Vincent returns to action next Saturday, October 4 with a home PAC matchup against Case Western Reserve. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Chuck Noll Field on Saint Vincent's homecoming.