Box Score

RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Benedictine University football team closed out the 2009 season with a full head of steam, knocking off Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) leader Concordia University Chicago, 15-14, for its third-consecutive victory. The Eagles finished the season 6-4 overall and were 5-2 in the NAC.

Benedictine was able to turn the tables on the Cougars thanks to some impressive defensive play. CUC, which came into the game averaging over 450 yards per game in offense, was limited to 225 yards. Conversely, the Eagles - which had a total offense figure of 246 yards per game heading into the game - upped that figure to 327 total yards against the Cougars.

The defensive effort was, fittingly, led by a quartet of seniors playing their final game in the Eagles' colors. Linebacker Devin Montgomery had a team-leading seven tackles, a sack and forced a fumble that led a Benedictine recovery for a touchdown. That recovery came from fellow senior linebacker Alex Dewey, who fell on the loose ball in the CUC end zone after Montgomery had leveled Cougars quarterback Mike Marotta.

Dewey finished the afternoon with six total tackles, as did senior defensive end Eddie Hill Jr. Lineman Steven Donovan added five tackles and swatted down one of Marotta's pass attempts.

Meanwhile, the BU offense did exactly what it had to do to compliment their defense's efforts: control the football.  In the final time of possession, the Eagles held a 38:17 to 21:43 minute advantage. That clock control was made possible thanks to the deft passing and running of quarterback Dave Klinger, also playing his final college game. Klinger completed 10-of-18 passes for 134 yards and also ran the ball six times for 29 yards (scoring the game-winning touchdown on a third quarter run).

Benedictine's first points of the day came off the foot of freshman placekicker Robert Miller. Miller was called on when BU's first possession stalled after the team had 68 yards on 17 plays to the CUC 18 yard line. On a fourth-and-three, Miller split the uprights with a 34 yard field goal with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

A great return on the ensuing kickoff by the Cougars' Jonathan Johnson started the hosts at the BU 36 yard line. Seven plays later, CUC's Khyre Copeland (22 carries/99 yards) plowed in from the six to make it 7-3 after the extra point kick, with just 10 tics left on the first quarter clock.

Early in the second period, Benedictine drove to the Concordia 13 yard line and appeared to be headed for a score. However, on a second-and-seven, Klinger was intercepted by Malcom Godwin near the goal line and the ball was returned to the CUC 10.

On the Cougars' very next play from scrimmage Marotta rolled out to pass. Montgomery was coming on a blitz and grabbed Marotta in the end zone for an apparent safety. However, the ball was jarred loose and Dewey alertly pounced on it to give his team the 9-7 lead with 9:27 left until halftime.

With 4:02 remaining until the intermission - and with possession near midfield - the Cougars again marched to a score. Two Copeland rushes sandwiched a Marotta completion that moved the ball to the Benedictine 38. From there, Marotta (12-of-26 for 148 yards) hit Terrance Miller on a slant pattern, and Miller took it all the way to the end zone for the TD that gave the Cougars the 14-9 halftime advantage.

The Eagles defense got the ball back for the would-be winning drive at the 11:21 juncture of the third quarter, after holding the Cougars out of the end zone and getting the ball back on downs at its own nine yard line.

The series featured two big catches by Matt Jenkins - who had a game-leading six grabs on the day - and Mike Trombetta. Freshman tailback John Alessi had six carries for 20 of his game-leading 122 rushing yards in the set, as well.

With a third-and-nine from the Concordia 16, Klinger ran the keeper for six yards to bring up a fourth-and-three on the 10 yard line. Klinger then called his own number again outside left end, turned the corner and cut just inside the pylon for the TD. The two-point conversion missed, leaving the score at a precarious 15-14.

The two teams slugged it out the remainder of the third period and most of the fourth stanza, with neither able to add any points. After the Cougars took over on downs with 4:20 left in the game and the ball on its own 37, CUC appeared to be in business.

As time wound down, Concordia managed to drive all the way down to Benedictine's 19 yard line. With a fourth-and-four play, and the game on the line, the Cougars took a timeout and elected to go for it rather than attempt what would have been at least a 36-yard field goal (CUC kicker Andrew Shine's long make this season was 31 yards).

Marotta's pass attempt towards the right-side pylon of the end zone – intended for Nate Bahr - was overthrown. Benedictine was able to take a knee twice as the clock ran out on the Cougars' hopes for a NAC title and gave the Eagles their best season yet in head coach Jon Cooper's fifth year at the Eagles' helm.