Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University football team eased to a 44-11 win over Concordia Chicago on Saturday afternoon.
Concordia Chicago opened an 8-0 lead by marching 88 yards on 10 plays late in the first quarter. Benedictine instantly answered. Following a 47-yard kick return from Artie Monaco, Ryan Keener connected on the first of four touchdown passes. Keener finished a nine-play drive with a 17-yard pass to Greg German, bringing Benedictine within 8-7 at the 1:01 mark of the quarter. The points marked the first of 30 in a row for the Eagles.
The first possession of the second quarter saw Benedictine grab the lead for good. Monaco reeled in a pass over the middle for 17 yards before diving across the goal line on a six-yard run. Benedictine converted on a fake PAT to make the score 15-8 with 9:58 left in the half. Following a three-and-out by the defense, the Eagles needed just four plays to move ahead 21-8. Keener hooked up with Monaco on a 39-yard pass for the strike with 5:34 to go. The defense was in on the scoring as Andrew Soulis logged a safety on a tackle in the endzone to make the score 23-8 with 3:34 remaining.
The defense added more points in the second half when a Max Seibert punt pinned Concordia Chicago at the one-yard line. Jarrett Lecas intercepted a pass at the six-yard line and eased into the endzone to extend the margin to 30-8. Keener tacked on two fourth quarter scoring passes to Jake Valas and German to finish the scoring after a Concordia Chicago field goal in the third.
"Today was a big win for us," said Head Coach John Cooper. "Defensively, we played a tremendous game. Offensivley, we took what Concordia gave us both running and passing the football, and I thought (Ryan) Keener had his best game of the year. We have had two good games in a row now, and while there are still some things we can improve on heading into next week, I am very pleased with the effort in all phases of our football team."
Benedictine limited Concordia Chicago to just 100 yards of offense on 53 plays including only 44 on the ground. The Eagles rolled up 356 yards with a balance of 145 rushing and 211 passing. Benedictine won despite forcing just one turnover while twice giving the ball to the visitors and allowing Concordia Chicago to win the time of possession battle.
Keener finished an efficient performance 16-for-21 with 211 yards and four touchdowns. The senior also gained 37 yards on the ground. Monaco logged 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground while adding three catches for 69 yards and a score to go with 91 yards on returns. Valas reeled in nine passes for 83 yards with German snaring three for 56.
Lecas paced the defense with 11 tackles. Dylan Rose and Micayel McKechnie added 10 each. The defense recorded six sacks and 13 tackles for loss in the contest. Drew Keil notched 2.5 tackles for loss.
Benedictine (3-4, 2-1) travels to conference leading Concordia Wisconsin next Saturday afternoon.