Benedictine limited WLC to 160 total yards for the game, just 79 of which game on the ground. Conversely, the Eagles had a few more yards – 248 to be exact – with 125 coming via the rush.

Both teams slugged it out like two heavyweight fighters, with the final result in doubt up until the very last minute of final round. Each team had a turnover and, appropriately enough, both were cashed in for touchdowns by the other offense.

After forcing a Warrior punt after the opening series of the game, Benedictine marched to the game's first score in the first quarter. Tailback Derek Hitt carried three times on the first four plays. An 11-yard completion from David Klinger to Mike Trombetta created a first-and-ten from the Wisconsin Lutheran 35.

From there, Hitt (13 carries/63 yards) took a pitch and headed around left end, gaining the corner and heading up field. A WLC defender appeared to be closing for a stop near the 20 yard line when BU wide receiver Matt Jenkins delivered a perfect block that eliminated the threat and paved the way for Hitt's parade to the end zone.

Robert Miller added the extra point kick to make it 7-0 with 9:54 left in the first period.

While the Warriors missed a chance to get on the board in that opening period when a 39-yard field goal attempt fell well short, they did knot matters at 7-7 in the second stanza after a 10-play, 39 yard drive (that chewed up 4:40 of the game clock).

WLC alternated rushes between Jesse Muldrow (11 carries/39 yards) and Larry Hairl (11 carries/56 yards) to chip away at the yardage, while also taking advantage of an Eagles' pass interference call that made it first-and-goal from the two. Muldrow plowed in on the second-and-goal that, with Phillip Chaltis' kick, tied the game with 6:31 left until the half.

Wisconsin Lutheran was able to take the touchdown lead into the locker room when, after the ensuing kickoff, Klinger fumbled deep in the Eagles' end with the Warriors' Kaylan Gaines on the spot for the recovery at the Benedictine 19.   Hairl ran off right end down to the one before being pushed out of bounds. On the next play, quarterback Zach Shaw dove in for the score with 5:31 left in the second, to make it 14-7 as it stood until the intermission.

Neither team was able to crack the end zone for the early part of the third quarter, until the Eagles' defense opened the door midway through the period.

On the first play of a drive from its own 20, WLC's Shaw went back to pass on the first down play. Shaw was pursued by the Eagles' rush and rolled right and fired the ball into the flats. BU senior linebacker Ryan Koziczynski was in perfect position to read the play and made a diving interception at the Warrior 23.

Freshman John Alessi (19 carries/45 yards) – on in relief of Hitt – rumbled 22 yards to the WLC one yard line. Then, on a second-and-goal, fullback Eric Ritter burst into the end zone. However, the extra point was missed and the Warriors clung to a precarious 14-13 advantage at the 3:56 mark of the third period.

The Benedictine defense caused a three-and-out, but a 48 yard punt by WLC's Shem Biebert started BU back on its own 30 in the waning minutes of the third period.

The Eagles clawed away and drove to the WLC nine, before eventually facing a fourth-and-goal. BU head coach Jon Cooper called on freshman placekicker Miller to attempt a 25 yard field goal.

Miller – who entered the game 0-3 on field goal tries this season – drilled the ball through the south uprights to give Benedictine the 16-14 advantage with 11:08 left on the game clock on his first make of 2009.

The teams traded punts on the next four possessions as time began to run short for WLC. BU's Neal Revane – the leading punter in the NAC – boomed a 49 yarder with 4:01 left in the game to put the Warriors on their own 17 yard line, first-and-ten, with what would prove to be their last stand.

On the first down play, Shaw appeared to have a 15 yard gainer to receiver Josh Stodola, but a jarring hit by Benedictine safety Tim Shanahan separated the ball from its intended target for the incompletion. On second down, Shaw was sacked for the third time on the afternoon, as Eagles' defensive end Eddie Hill Jr. dropped him for a 12 yard loss. Another incompletion forced the Warriors – who had burned two of their timeouts on that series - to punt and hope to be able to stop Benedictine's offense.

The Warriors' defensive unit held and brought up a fourth-and-one from the WLC 41, as the visitors called their final timeout to make BU think about its decision. Initially, the BU punt team had taken the field, but was recalled as the offense was given the opportunity to ice the game.

Ritter's number was called off the right side and the junior barreled ahead for a five yard gain that picked up the first down and sealed the win for Benedictine, as well as the Warriors' fate in the tough loss.

Justin Cromas of Wisconsin Lutheran led all tacklers with nine stops. Gaines finished with eight tackles (all solo), the fumble recovery and both of WLC's sacks.

Koziczynski and Steve Donovan each had five tackles for the Eagles. Donovan and linebacker Devin Montgomery (4 tackles) shared a sack, while Hill Jr. and Dan Kleppin each had sacks, as well (upping Kleppin's team-leading total to 7 ½ sacks on the year).

Shaw was seven-of-26 for 87 yards through the air for WLC, while Benedictine's two-headed quarterback combo was a bit more productive. Klinger had the one 11-yard completion to Trombetta in four attempts, while Brown delivered an eight-for-15 effort for 112 yards.