Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
ROCKFORD, IL - The Benedictine University football team opened the conference portion of the schedule with a 20-17 win at Rockford University on Saturday.
Benedictine forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the contest before needing just six plays to take the lead. Ryan Sample completed five consecutive passes on the drive to set the career record for completions. Sample found Alex Lopez for the first points of the game on a nine-yard score with 11:31 left in the first to hand Benedictine a 7-0 lead. The points were the only points of the opening 15 minutes.
Rockford tied the game early in the second quarter, taking advantage of an interception to score on just two plays and strike on a 20-yard pass play with 13:18 remaining in the first half. Another interception late in the first half prompted a big return to set up a field goal as Rockford led 10-7 with 1:38 to go in the half. Utilizing the hurry-up offense, Benedictine stormed 70 yards down the field on nine plays to grab the lead just before the intermission. Joshua Williams finished three consecutive rushes with a four-yard score with just 12 seconds left, handing Benedictine a 14-10 lead at the break.
The teams traded interceptions late in the third with Victor Johnson setting up a big play with a pick. Sample hit Matt Fleming on a 45-yard play to extend the lead to 20-10 with 3:23 to play in the third.
Driving 11 plays and 75 yards with a chance to put some distance between the teams, Benedictine turned the ball over on a fumble with 6:33 remaining in the game. Rockford quickly passed don field, gaining 80 yards on just five plays to draw within 20-17 at the 4:45 marker. Benedictine was able to run the clock out on a win by rushing eight times and gaining four first downs to tally the win.
The offense ran an even split with 39 rushes and 39 passes. Benedictine finished with 497 yards, 280 through the air and 217 on the ground. The team was able to overcome four turnovers to win. Defensively, Benedictine finished with five sacks and held Rockford to just 273 total yards.
Sample added another record by taking over the school's career lead in yards, throwing for 280 by completing 23 passes with a pair of touchdowns. The third-year starter added 58 yards rushing. Williams averaged nearly seven yards per carry, gaining 150 yards on 22 carries and also caught three passes. Dean Pauley led all receivers with six catches for 64 yards. Seven players caught a pass in the victory.
Johnson paced the defense with nine stops and an interception. The senior also broke up a pass and picked up a sack. Braden Lentini, a converted running back, notched 1.5 sacks to go with seven tackles including 2.5 for loss along with two breakups. Brad Nolan finished with eight tackles and a sack.
Benedictine (2-2, 1-0 NACC) plays at home for the first time since the opening week of the season next Saturday for the annual homecoming game against Concordia Wisconsin.