DEERFIELD, Ill. - A potential game-winning field goal attempt with just eight seconds on the clock looked to give the visitors a come-from-behind victory, but senior linebacker Riley Schussler would block the kick, sealing a dramatic 35-33 victory for Trinity International over the St. Francis Saints, on Saturday afternoon at Leslie Frazier Field.

Box Score | Season Stats

Schussler collected a team-leading 12 tackles in the win, for a Trinity defense that scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Kelvin Acosta scooped up a fumble on the fourth play from scrimmage, running back 47 yards for the score to put the Trojans (2-7, 1-4 MSFA Midwest) ahead 7-0. A missed field goal for the Saints (4-5, 1-3 MSFA Midwest) kept the shutout intact, but when the TIU offense suffered a fumble of their own, St. Francis took control at midfield. Eight plays later, the Trojan defense held USF to a field goal from 25 yards out to keep the lead, 7-3 with 4:07 left in the first quarter.

St. Francis would take the lead near the end of the first half, when an eight-play, 65-yard drive resulted in a two-yard touchdown run for USF's Alex Zlomie. Trinity would respond with a key possession before halftime, beginning with Rafael Williams' 26-yard punt return crossing midfield and giving the Trojans strong field position. J.J. Burmeister threw the first of his two touchdown passes on the day, finding Zach Chesser for the 9-yard reception.

Receiving the ball to start the second half, Trinity were poised to add to their 14-13 advantage, but an interception just outside the red zone killed the drive. The defense stepped up, with four different players recording tackles on a three-and-out, followed by another big return from Williams setting the Trojans up on the USF 43-yardline.

A 37-yard reception from Burmeister to Williams was the highlight of a three-play drive, resulting in an Isaac Branch rushing TD to extend the Trojans' lead to 21-13. Another three-and-out allowed Trinity to pull away further 28-13, when Burmeister punched the ball into the end zone on a quarterback keeper with 4:21 left in the third quarter.

St. Francis would close the gap, scoring a 31-yard touchdown on third-and-7 on the final play of the third quarter. A missed extra point made it a 28-19 score with fifteen minutes to play.

The Saints would pull to within two points with a touchdown at the 13:04 mark, 28-26, but on the first play of the next drive, Williams would go 65 yards for the touchdown reception, keeping TIU ahead 35-26. The sophomore finished with a career-high 171 receiving yards and eight catches, marking his first career 100-yard performance as a Trojan.

St. Francis again pulled to within two, scoring on a 13-play, 75-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter. Another stop from the USF defense gave the visitors the ball with 4:29 on the clock, but the drive would stall out on the 14-yardline, setting up the final field goal attempt. Schussler broke through the line to block the kick to seal the win.

Burmeister finished the day with 212 passing yards, completing 14 of 20 passes. Branch finished as the team's leading rusher, collecting 91 yards on 16 carries.

The Trojans return to Leslie Frazier Field one final time in 2016, when they host the Siena Heights Saints on Senior Day, Saturday November 5th. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.