The Benedictine University football team scored a pair of touchdowns in the final three minutes to rally past visiting Olivet College in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.
Brandon Moore scored twice in the final three minutes to account for the victory, returning a punt for a score and reeling in a 9-yard touchdown from Ryan Sample.
Moore opened the scoring midway through the first quarter. A botched snap on a field goal attempt stopped an Olivet drive. Matt Fleming immediately caught an 18-yard pass before Moore broke away for a 51-yard touchdown to cap a 2-play drive and give Benedictine a 7-0 lead with 7:28 left in the opening quarter.
Olivet began the see-saw action of the afternoon by banging home a 40-yard field goal with the win to pull within 7-3. The visitors led for the first time after a 9-play drive to jump ahead 10-7 early in the second. Benedictine countered with a 13-play drive covering 62 yards to take a 14-10 lead when Grant Jochums plunged in from one-yard away at the 7:23 mark of the second.
Olivet needed just six plays to move ahead 16-14. The extra point attempt was blocked by Tyler Mitchell. Sample surged in from six yards out for the final points of the first half, making the score 21-16 with 3:07 left in the half after a 5-play drive was keyed by a 50-yard completion to Fleming.
Olivet returned the opening kickoff of the second half 88 yards to take the lead at 23-21 and quickly forced a three-and-out. Moving 66 yards, Olivet scored again to capture a 30-21 lead just over five minutes into the second half.
Sample found Fleming for a 25-yard score on a third down play to finish a 74-yard drive and bring Benedictine within 30-28 with 6:50 left in the third quarter. Olivet embarked on a never ending clock eating drive, ticking 10:38 off the clock to eventually score following a 20-play drive, again leading by nine points at 37-28.
Benedictine missed a 43-yard field goal attempt to cut the deficit before the teams traded three-and-outs. The defense forced a punt and needing a big play, Moore raced through the defense 72 yards to make the score 37-35 with 3:13 remaining. The defense forced another three-and-out to set the stage for the winning score.
Benedictine needed only five plays to score the winning touchdown, taking advantage of a short field. Sample completed three passes to Dean Pauley on the drive and two to Moore, including the 9-yard winner. Olivet was able to drive to the Benedictine 32 yardline but ran out of time.
The teams combined for nearly 900 yards of offense with Olivet collecting 459 and Benedictine 422. Olivet held the ball for 39:04 of the contest. Neither team turned the ball over.
Sample finished with 317 yards and three passing touchdowns. Moore caught seven passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns while accounting for 187 total yards. Fleming hauled in five passes for 107 yards and a touchdown with Pauley also catching five passes. Jochums carried the ball nine times for 44 yards.
Tyreese Fontanez and Victor Johnson each finished with 13 tackles. Austin Nirva notched 12 stops and Brad Nolan 10. Nolan produced five quarterback hurries. Dany Drummond, Frank Veal III and Evontrae Pierce all recorded a sack. Benedictine racked up 11 tackles for loss in the contest.
Benedictine (4-3) travels to Concordia Chicago next Saturday.
Benedictine Scores Final 15 to Best Olivet
/seasons/2017/boxscores/20171021_13kg.xml
2017
Olivet
37
Benedictine
43
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olivet (4-3) | 3 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 37 |
| Benedictine (4-3) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 43 |
Oct 21, 2017