The 2004 Cougars finished the regular season undefeated. In the postseason playoffs, the Cougars advanced to the national championship game where they lost to the Fighting Saints of Carroll, 15-13 in double overtime.
Schedule
(13-1 overall, 7-0 conference)
The 2004 season was the first of three consecutive trips to the NAIA championship game in Savannah, TN. The Cougars finished as runner-up in the nation with its 2-point loss to Carroll (MT). As a tribute to this team's success, Donley was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year for the second time.[1]
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site
Result
September 11
Ohio Dominican
No. 4
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN
W 55–3
September 18
at No. 10 McKendree*
No. 4
Lebanon, IL
W 33–10
September 25
Iowa Wesleyan*
No. 3
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN
W 62–8
October 2
at Geneva
No. 3
Beaver Falls, PA
W 30–24
October 9
Butler*
No. 3
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN
W 35–7
October 16
Urbana
No. 2
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN
W 37–20
October 23
at Taylor
No. 2
Upland, IN
W 46–0
October 30
Malone
No. 2
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN
W 40–6
November 6
at Quincy
No. 2
Quincy, IL
W 49–13
November 13
No. 15 Walsh
No. 2
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN
W 42–14
November 20
No. 12 Morningside*
No. 2
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN (NAIA First Round)
W 53–3
November 27
No. 16 Hastings*
No. 2
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN (NAIA Quarterfinal)
W 48–17
December 4
No. 3 Georgetown*
No. 2
Bishop D'Arcy Stadium
Fort Wayne, IN (NAIA Semifinal)
W 12–7
December 18
vs. No. 1 Carroll*
No. 2
Savannah, TN (NAIA Championship)
L 13–15
*Non-conference game
Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
National awards and honors
Senior running back Cory Jacquay was named as the 2004 NAIA Football Player of the Year. This was the first time in Cougar football history that one of their players received the award.
Ranking movements
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking