Game Leaders
Team Stats
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Time of Poss.
LISLE, IL - Receiver Brandon Moore set a school and conference record by hauling in 18 receptions, but the Benedictine University football team fell to visiting Aurora University 41-24 on senior day in the final home game of the year.
Aurora used the ground game all afternoon, taking a 7-0 lead with 6:53 left in the first quarter following a 92-yard drive. Grant Klaver pinned Aurora deep to start the drive. Benedictine responded with a 10-play drive to kick a field goal and pull within 7-3. Tyler Jarnagin booted the 24-yarder with 2:04 to play in the first.
Aurora scored on the first two drives of the second quarter to extend the margin to 20-3. The visitors added a 60-yard drive late in the half to take a 27-3 edge. Benedictine wrapped the half with a 75-yard drive spanning eight plays to pull within 27-11 at halftime. Jarnagin completed a 34-yard play to Alex Lopez to help set up a two-yard dump to Brandon Adams with just nine seconds left. Jarnagin hit Moore on the two-point conversion.
Receiving the ball to begin the second half, Benedictine marched 78 yards to pull within 27-17. Moore snared his lone touchdown of the day to finish the drive, a 28-yard catch over the top of an Aurora defender. Aurora needed just three plays to pull ahead by a 34-17 count on a 56-yard rush.
Starting from the nine, Benedictine stormed 91 yards down the field to cap a 16-play drive with a two yard run from Joshua Williams, opening the fourth quarter with points to pull within 34-24. Benedictine was able to force a punt after the score, but could not move the ball and Aurora used a 53-yard rush to end the comeback hopes, leading 41-24.
Benedictine held the ball for 35:13 of the game, including most of the third quarter. Aurora held a 459-445 edge in yards with 335 coming on the ground including 295 from Tyran Bailey. Benedictine totaled 140 rushing and 305 passing. Moore caught 18 passes, bettering the school mark of 15 set by Sebastian Singleton in 2003 against Lakeland. The conference mark was 14, set three times, most recently in 2014. Williams ran for 95 yards on 26 carries while Jarnagin entered at quarterback and completed 31 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Scottie Bobeck paced the defense with 12 tackles including one for loss. Daytwone Burge added eight stops and Frank Veal III seven.
Benedictine (2-7, 2-4 NACC) ends the year at Concordia Chicago next Saturday afternoon.