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Time of Poss.
AURORA, Ill. - The Benedictine University football team won for the first time in conference action, blanking Aurora 26-0 on the road Saturday afternoon.
Benedictine took the lead late in the first quarter after the teams swapped possessions. Starting at their own 43, Artie Monaco carried three times including a 28-yarder to set up the Eagles at the eight-yard line. Ryan Keener scooted in to hand Benedictine a 6-0 lead with 1:36 left in the opening quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, Monaco took a punt back 62 yards to extend the lead to 12-0 early in the second, which was the score at the half.
Opening with the ball in the second, Benedictine extended the advantage to 19-0 on just three plays. Keener connected with Greg German on consecutive passes including a 51-yard strike with 13:35 left in the third. The next possession stalled deep in Aurora territory but a 14-play drive spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth put the game away. Keener found Greg Sims with a five-yard pass to finish the scoring at the 11:41 mark of the fourth.
Defensively, Benedictine limited Aurora to just 182 yards despite the hosts holding a time of pssession advantage. Jarrett Lecas and Rodney Nichols recorded interceptions. Monaco ran for a season best 167 yards on 28 carries while German reeled in four passes for 93 yards. Keener finished 8-of-16 through the air for 128 yards and a pair of scores. Micayel McKechnie logged seven tackles to pace the defense.
Benedictine (2-4, 1-1) returns home for the first time on October to meet Concordia Chicago at 1:00 p.m. next Saturday.