Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
Olivet, Mich. - The Benedictine University football team saw more records fall in a 54-48 overtime non-conference loss at Olivet College on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Sample broke the single game record for passing yards with 475, besting a mark set two weeks ago at Concordia Wisconsin. Sample, who also set the total offense record again with 477, threw five touchdowns, four of which went to Paul Gray, who set a conference record for receiving touchdowns.
The contest was a track meet from the beginning. Benedictine opened the game with an 11-play drive to open the scoring. Sample completed five passes including a 30-strike to Jonathan Roberts and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Gray. The ensuing extra point was blocked and Benedictine held a 6-0 lead at the 10:56 mark of the first quarter. Oliver responded with a seven play drive to take a 7-6 advantage.
Benedictine needed just seven plays to jump ahead again. Elijah Walker reeled in a 49-yard pass as part of the drive. Gray caught his second touchdown from three yards away, making the tally 13-7 with 4:46 to play. Olivet followed suit with a 10-play drive but had the extra-point blocked by Jarrett Lecas as the score held 13-13 at the end of the first.
Following a trade of possessions in the second quarter, Ryan Sample dove in on a one-yard rush to give Benedictine a 20-13 advantage with 7:11 to play in the first half. Olivet countered with another 10-play drive to tie the score with 2:53 left in the second quarter.
Benedictine ended the half with a flurry, scoring 13 unanswered points. Walker broke away for a 61-yard touchdown to make the score 27-20 with 2:35 left in the half. Olivet answered with a drive, but Lecas blocked a field goal attempt and proceeded to return it 80 yards for a touchdown as time expired, making the score 33-20 at the break.
Olivet scored on back-to-back drives in the third quarter to grab a 34-33 lead with under five minutes to go in the third. Gray caught his third touchdown to answer with 2:24 remaining in the third to put Benedictine ahead 40-34.
Both teams scored to open the fourth with Gray grabbing his fourth touchdown to make the score 48-41 following a two-point conversion from Sample to Walker. Olivet tied the game with 1:56 left and saw a field goal attempt to win the game blocked by Jordan Wallace. Olivet scored the winning touchdown on third down in overtime after halting Benedictine.
Both teams combined for over 1,000 yards with Benedictine racking up 479. Sample completed 28-of-51 attempts. Gray reeled in nine passes for 78 yards. Walker collected seven passes for 181 yards. Luke Ludolph posted six receptions for a career best 148 yards.
Scottie Bobeck led the defense with 13 tackles, one of three players to collect double-digit stops. Lecas and Daniel Chism each collected 10.
Benedictine (4-3) returns to conference action next week at Wisconsin Lutheran. Wisconsin Lutheran knocked off Lakeland to make the race for the conference title wide open.