Borsellino Leads Benedictine to Win in NAC Opener
CHICAGO, Ill. - The Benedictine University football team opened defense of their 2010 Northern Athletics Conference title by recording a 43-21 road win at Concordia University Chicago in the 2011 opener.
The Eagles drove nine plays on the opening possession of the contest to set the tone of the game early. Matt Brown used his legs for a 23-yard scurry on the game's third play into Concordia territory and saw 15 yards added on following a penalty. John Borsellino cashed in with an eight-yard touchdown grab with 10:01 left in the opening quarter but the extra point attempt was blocked. Concordia immediately responded, jumping ahead 7-6 when Jake Koehler found Savonte Hunt for a 34-yard score less than a minute later.
The Eagles were denied on a fourth and goal attempt from the one-yardline late in the first. Benedictine forced a safety at the end of the quarter to go ahead 8-7 when Concordia's punter dropped the ball in the endzone and never trailed again. The Eagles needed just six plays after the safety for Brown to hook up with Brandin Austin on a nine-yard touchdown with 12:41 remaining in the half.
Benedictine extended the margin with a 10-play drive late in the half as Borsellino found the endzone for the second time on a two-yard stint with under two minutes left. After an interception a 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked at the end of the half.
The game remained quiet until the start of the fourth when Brown connected with Chris Schultz for a 60-yard strike extending the lead to 29-7 with the first of three fourth quarter scores. Concordia responded with a 60-yard pass play of their own, pulling within 29-14. One play was all it took for Borsellino to record his third score of the day, breaking away for a 67-yard run with 11:59 to play to make it 36-14.
Concordia ran back an interception to pull within 36-21 before the Eagles sealed the victory after an interception of their own on a five yard run from John Alessi with 2:59 to go.
Borsellino carried 31 times for a season best 164 yards and two touchdowns. Brown completed 14 passes for 218 yards with three touchdowns. Schultz and Borsellino each reeled in five passes with Schultz amassing 130 yards. Mike Thierault picked off two passes as Benedictine recorded five picks in the contest. Scott Hannon added two sacks. Chris Buonavolanto led the defense with 11 tackles.
Benedictine (2-2, 1-0) will welcome Aurora University next Saturday for the homecoming game at 1:00 p.m.
