Hempfield grad finds fit at Saint Vincent, racks up eye-popping passing stats

When he came to Saint Vincent, Jake Phillips had academics at the top of his priority list. Sports were more of an activity, something he could do on the side as he worked toward a degree.

“I had heard a lot of really great things about the place, and the right people spoke highly of it,” Phillips said of Saint Vincent. “From there, it was really a decision of lacrosse or football.”

He chose football. Before long, the former Hempfield quarterback was slinging the ball around with the best in NCAA Division III while invigorating his career.

“I honestly didn’t have any kind of direct expectations,” Phillips said. “I really just wanted to do well. Truthfully speaking, I know I’m capable of having a much better season next year.”

Phillips racked up big games from the start of his junior year. He transferred from Division II Cal (Pa.), where he did not play after joining the Vulcans in 2023.

Setting the game down for a bit did not affect his ability to make big throws.

Phillips this season completed 192 of 356 passes for 2,531 yards with 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for SVC, which finished 2-8 overall and 1-7 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

His yardage total is fourth in the PAC, while his passing efficiency of 125.4 ranks eighth.

“We knew Jake had potential, but I don’t know that we realized how quickly he would command the offense,” SVC coach Casey Goff said. “He’s a smart kid who cares. That is the biggest thing. He cares about his craft, his work ethic and his teammates. He also has tremendous arm talent to make the big throws.”

Goff said the Bearcats’ offense was not adjusted to fit Phillips, despite the QB’s quick grasp of it.

”Our offense naturally morphs to fit our personnel and to attack defenses, so I wouldn’t exactly say we tweak it for anyone,” Goff said. “There are things in place to highlight our personnel regardless of who it is and what they are good at.”

Phillips owes a lot to his top target, junior receiver Chris Downs. The pair were one of the top pass-and-catch combos in the nation this season, and that comes without hyperbole.

Downs led the PAC with 68 receptions for 1,205 yards and 17 TDs.

“Chris and I are good friends, which contributes largely to our connection,” Phillips said. “All the starting receivers and I have done a number of our own film sessions and extra work after practice. When people talk about chemistry, what it really derives from is trust. I’ve been telling Chris since spring ball that I trust him to win, and I need him to trust me to put the ball where it needs to be. That relationship has, obviously, worked out, and the results speak for themselves.”

Downs had three games with 10 or more receptions, including a 13-catch game against Hiram and a 11-catch, 279-yard performance against Geneva.

He caught three TDs when SVC played Bethany.

“They are students of the game with great work ethic,” Goff said of Phillips and Downs. “They developed great chemistry and stuck with it.”

Sophomore Tristan Doy added 36 receptions for 427 yards, junior Keegan O’Brien had 28 catches and sophomore Ian Tuffs (Hempfield) added 26.

Phillips threw for more than 200 yards in six games, topping 300 four times. At Geneva in Week 3, he was 29 of 50 for 485 yards and four touchdowns. The next week, he went 33 for 52 for 390 yards and five scores against Hiram.

SVC is the fit Phillips was looking for since he left high school.

“I wholeheartedly believe SVC is a great place to be. The school itself is great, but the people are unmatched,” he said. “Our coaching staff is phenomenal. It’s rare to find coaches that care as much about their players as ours do, and coupling that with their understanding of the game is what I think really sets them apart.

“I am looking forward to ’26 and having the best season this program has seen.”