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LISLE, IL - Returning from a bye week, the Benedictine University football team scored on the first four possessions of the game in a 67-15 victory over Rockford University in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener.
Benedictine rolled up over 550 yards of offense and saw eight different individuals score despite holding the ball for only 20:22 of the game. The team outscored Rockford 37-0 in the second half of the contest.
Receiving the opening kickoff, Benedictine used an eight-play drive to open the scoring. Ryan Sample found Jake Valas for a six-yard strike at the 12:43 mark of the first quarter. Following a 23-yard field goal from Rockford Braden Lentini marched in from seven yards out with 4:25 to play in the opening quarter to push the margin to 13-3.
Rockford drove but could not score before an eight-play drive opened the margin to 20-3. Elijah Walker reeled in a 20-yard pass from Sample to finish the drive. Walker also tip-toed for a 68-yard score to extend the lead to 28-9. Jarrett Lecas blocked a Rockford extra-point attempt at the close of the half and returned it for two points to make the score 30-15 at the half.
The defense tightened in the second half, forcing a turnover on the first play when Jersey Eickhorst picked off a pass. Derrick Miles took advantage with a 13-yard run to make the score 37-15.
Luke Ludolph and Grant Jochums added touchdowns on the ground in the second half while Walker caught a 29-yard pass from Walker and Javon McBride returned a punt 85 yards for a score. The final points of the day came on a safety.
Benedictine accumulated 556 yards of offense on 57 plays. The team racked up 332 yards passing and 224 yards rushing. Sample completed 16 passes for 326 yards with four touchdowns. Walker caught five passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns. Ludolph and Miles both finished with 52 yards rushing and a touchdown. Jordan Wallace led the defense with 10 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Benedictine (3-1, 1-0 NACC) travels to Concordia Wisconsin next week.