BOX SCORE

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – By defeating Wisconsin Lutheran College 35-14, the Benedictine University football team clinched the 2010 Northern Athletics Conference championship with an undefeated 7-0 conference record and earned a bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championships. The Eagles find out on Sunday afternoon who they take on in the first round.

Both teams were scoreless in the first half but Mike Trombetta ended the scoring drought in the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Preston Earl to put BenU up 7-0 after an LJ Stolarksi made field goal.

The Eagles defense came up big after the Warriors Zach Shaw threw a pass intercepted by JT Zimmerman on the 48-yard line which eventually put Benedictine up 14-0 after Earl found Brandin Austin on a 35-yard pass.

The Warriors cut the deficit in half after Matt Lopata caught a 14-yard pass from Shaw on a six-play, 39-yard drive.

The Eagles came out ready to go in the third quarter, with Austin scoring his second of three touchdowns of the game, a 23-yard pass from Earl that put BenU up 21-7.

Wisconsin Lutheran answered right back the very next play with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Shaw who found Kinte Collins in the end zone to put the Warriors back in the game.

The fourth quarter was all Benedictine with Earl throwing a beautiful 67-yard touchdown pass to Austin that took a minute off the clock. Minutes later the Eagles secured the win when John Borsellino ran for six yards for Benedictine's final score of the game.

Borsellino led the Eagles in rushing with 118 yards while Austin had 175 yards receiving with three touchdowns. Earl was 16-for-29 with one interception.

On defense, Trent Altieri led BenU with 12 tackles while Eric Rickert and Zimmerman each had seven.

The Eagles won their first NAC Championship for the first time since 1934 and will be making an appearance at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Benedictine will find out their playoff fate on Sunday afternoon. The Coal Ben will be having a selection show part for the team beginning at 1:30 p.m.