BENEDICTINE AT WISCONSIN LUTHERAN
October 29 - 1:00 p.m.

REWIND
Benedictine dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season when Braden Black threw a nine-yard touchdown in overtime to give Olivet a 54-48 victory. The 54 points were the most allowed in a game this year. Benedictine held a 33-20 lead at the half. Olivet tied the game with under two minutes left on a desperation fourth down play that was named as the D3football.com Play of the Week. Olivet also had an opportunity to win, but Dan Chism blocked the potential game-winning field goal. Ryan Sample broke the single game school record for passing yards for the second time this season, throwing for 475 along with five touchdown passes. Sample racked up 477 yards of total offense, also breaking the single game mark for the second time this year. Four of the touchdowns from Sample went to Paul Gray, who caught a career high nine passes. The four touchdown receptions set a school and conference record. The teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense. Elijah Walker and Luke Ludolph both accumulated over 100 yards receiving, marking the second time this year that Benedictine saw multiple receivers accumulate over the century mark in a game.

SCENE SETTER
Benedictine returns to conference play after a week in Michigan and looks to return to the win column for the first time since October 8. This afternoon could serve as an elimination game in the conference race. Both teams are among a quad of one-loss programs in conference play.  

WARRIOR WORDS
Wisconsin Lutheran has won three straight and is coming off a 50-34 victory over previously conference unbeaten Lakeland University on the road. Wisconsin Luther shook off a shaky start to outscore Lakeland 26-7 in the second half and pull away. Quarterback Pat Mathieson accounted for 447 yards of total offense with 228 yards passing and 219 on the ground. Mathieson threw four touchdowns while running for a pair and was selected as the NACC Offensive Player of the Week. Wisconsin Lutheran is second in the conference in rushing yards with 1,167. The Warriors have also been strong on special teams, leading the conference in yards per punt and field goals. JD Leisemann leads the conference with six sacks. Wisconsin Lutheran scored 25.1 points per game while allowing 34.6.

LAST YEAR
Benedictine opened conference play by tallying a 30-13 home win over Wisconsin Lutheran on October 10. Benedictine opened a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but touchdowns from Mitch Skarban on consecutive possessions put the visitors ahead 13-10 midway through the second. Wisconsin Lutheran would not score again. Omar Lopez reeled in a 26-yard touchdown from Ryan Sample with just over a minute left in the first to give Benedictine the lead for good. Sample threw for 273 yards with four touchdowns in the win. Benedictine held the ball for 35:21 of the game.

SERIES HISTORY
The history between Benedictine and Wisconsin Lutheran is small. Benedictine owns a 5-3 advantage all-time with the first meeting coming in 2008. The teams have split the last six meetings. Benedictine sits 2-2 in the four meetings at Wisconsin Lutheran and has dropped the last two visits to Milwaukee. Benedictine posted a 30-13 win in Lisle last season, the second largest margin of victory in the series. The average margin of victory is under 10 points per meeting.

UP NEXT
Benedictine returns home for another key conference game against Concordia University Chicago in the final home game of the year. Concordia Chicago also owns just one loss in conference play but hosts Lakeland this week. Benedictine shut out Concordia Chicago 41-0 last season and has won three straight in the series, allowing 11 points over the last two years.

RUSH WEEK
Benedictine ran the ball a season low 19 times last week, accumulating just four yards, also a season low. Benedictine had run for 100+ yards in five straight games with more than 160 over three in a row before the loss, attempting at least 31 rushes in each of those affairs. The season high total for rushing yards came on October 1 against Rockford in the conference opener, rolling up 224. Benedictine averages 120 rushing yards per game, sixth in the conference. Last year Benedictine led the conference with 1,576 yards on the ground, 157.6 per game. Benedictine does lead the conference with 13 rushing touchdowns this year, six from quarterback Ryan Sample. Defensively, Benedictine led the conference in rushing defense at 121.4 yards per game a season ago. The team still leads the conference in 2016, but is allowing 174.4 yards per game. Lakeland piled up a season high 229 yards on the ground on October 15 and Olivet amassed 229 last week. Benedictine has allowed over 200 yards on the ground three times this season, all losses.

TOUCHDOWN TIME
Benedictine has scored 38 touchdowns this season, most in the conference. Concordia University Chicago is second with 35 scores. Ten different individuals have accounted for touchdowns on the year. Elijah Walker leads the team with 11 touchdowns, all receiving. Ryan Sample has thrown for 23 touchdowns while adding six on the ground, second most in the conference. Paul Gray owns five receiving touchdowns. Derrick Miles has tallied four scores rushing while JaVon McBride and Jesse Kilbourn have each scored three times.

STRICTLY STREAKING
Benedictine saw a four-game win streak come to a close with the homecoming loss to Lakeland on October 15. Benedictine has produced win streaks of at least four games in each of the past four seasons. The 2015 team opened the season 1-2 before ripping off six consecutive victories heading into the season ending clash at Lakeland. The team ended the season with five straight wins in 2014. In 2013, Benedictine won five straight before a season ending loss against Lakeland. The longest win streak in recent memory came in 2011 with the team winning six straight en route to an appearance in the NCAA Playoffs. During another NCAA season in 2010, the team won seven in a row.

STARTS WITH THE D
No school in the NACC is allowing less than 408 yards per game. Lakeland leads the conference in defense, allowing 408.6 per game. Benedictine sits last at 450 yards per game. Opponents throw for an average of 275.6 yards per game, most in the conference, while rushing for 174.4 which is the fewest in conference.

SULTANS OF SWAT
Benedictine blocked three kicks last week at Olivet, two field goals and an extra-point. Jarrett Lecas blocked an extra point and a field goal, returning the blocked field goal 80 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving Benedictine a 33-20 lead. Lecas leads the nation with five blocks this season and has twice recorded more than one block. For his efforts, Lecas was named as the NACC Special Teams Player of the Week. Benedictine has posted six blocks on the season with Dan Chism also owning a block. The six blocks rank in a tie for third in the nation.

SAMPLE SIZE
Ryan Sample has put together a record setting season so far. Sample posted a record-setting week against Concordia Wisconsin on October 8 by setting  single game records for passing yards (449), touchdowns (six), and total offense (453). The numbers for passing yards and total offense were broken again last week with 475 and 477 respectively. The junior is assaulting the school record board in his second year as a starter having thrown for over 4,500 yards and 43 touchdowns. Sample, an honorable mention all-conference selection, has set a career high for touchdown passes with 23, with three games remaining and is just two away from the school's single season mark.  The Manteno, Ill. native threw for over 300 yards in four straight contests from September 10-October 8, all victories. Sample owns seven career games with 300 or more yards passing and attempted a career high 59 passes against Concordia Wisconsin.  Sample is tied for sixth in the nation with 23 touchdown passes while sitting seventh in passing yards at 2,361 and eighth in yards per game at 337.3. Sample is tied for third nationally in points accounted for with180 on the season having with the 23 passing scores, six rushing, and three two-point conversions.

WALKER WONDERS
Elijah Walker leads the conference with 869 yards receiving, ninth in the nation. Walker has tallied over 110 yards five times this year and has caught at least five passes in all but one game this season. The senior has reeled in 11 touchdowns this year, second in the conference with a number that is tied for seventh most in the country. Walker twice equaled the single game conference record for touchdowns which was broken this weekend by Paul Gray. Walker caught a career high 12 passes for a career best 185 yards in a road win over Concordia Wisconsin and has accumulated over 150 yards receiving three times this year.

ALL-AMERICAN
Despite a season marred with injury that resulted in a season ending injury in the seventh game of the year, Jarrett Lecas was selected as an AFCA All-American in 2015. Lecas missed parts of six games in total but still accumulated four interceptions, with two returned for a touchdown. The safety was named a Second Team preseason All-American last year by D3football.com. Lecas is just the fifth player in school history to earn All-American honors. John Borsellino was a two-time All-American in 2011 and 2012. This season, the senior leads the team with 63 tackles and owns an interception along with three pass breakups. Lecas owns four games with double-digit tackles including a team high 11 in the loss to Lakeland. The three-time first team all-conference selection has posted three consecutive double-digit tackle contests and owns 15 career games with at least 10 tackles. Lecas owns 16 career interceptions, five away from the career record. Additionally, Lecas has been making an impact on special teams, blocking five kicks this year to lead the nation. The Frankfort, Ill. native has also been returning punts and owns a blocked extra-point return for two points and a blocked field goal return for a touchdown.

TURNOVER MACHINE
Victor Johnson has accounted for five of the 13 turnovers produced by the Benedictine defense. Johnson has recovered three fumbles while recording a pair of interceptions. Johnson has sealed victories with fourth quarter interceptions against Adrian and Concordia Wisconsin. The junior is third on the team with 55 tackles, one of four players to have collected 50 or more stops this season.

CONVERT THIS
Benedictine owns a third down conversion rate of just 39 percent but is converting on 61 percent of fourth down attempts. Benedictine has gone for it 18 times on fourth down this year. The fourth down percentage is tied for 33rd in the country.

FOR TWO
Benedictine has converted on five two-point conversions this year on seven attempts and have also added a two-point score on a return of a blocked PAT. The five conversions are tied with Lakeland for the most in the conference. Benedictine has attempted a two-point conversion at least once in each of the last five games. Jacob Czerniakowski, the holder, has thrown for pair of conversions with Ryan Sample adding three. Luke Ludolph and Elijah Walker have each reeled in two conversion passes with Jake Valas owning the other. Jarrett Lecas own the return for two points after he blocked a kick against Rockford. Additionally, Benedictine owns a pair of safeties this season.  

KICK THIS
Benedictine leads the conference in kick return and punt return average. Benedictine has returned 31 kicks this year and has racked up 650 yards for an average of 21.0 per return. The 650 yards are second most. JaVon McBride leads the conference with a 26.5 yard average per kick return on 10 tries with a long of 59. Elijah Walker sits fourth in the conference at 20.7 yards per return on 11 attempts. Eight individuals have returned kickoffs this year. By contrast, Benedictine has returned 14 punts, most in the conference, for an average of 14.6 yards per return. McBride owns the lone return touchdown of the year, an 85-yard punt return against Rockford on October 1 in the conference opener on his only return attempt of the season. Four individuals have returned punts on the campaign led by Juwann Nelson, who leads the conference with 106 yards on nine punt returns.

KICK THIS TOO
Four different kickers have attempted extra points this season while two have tried field goals. Freshman Kyle Bennett is 11-of-15 on PATs this season and connected on a 28-yard field goal in his first attempt of the season at Concordia Wisconsin. Bennett missed a 41-yard attempt to tie late in the fourth against Lakeland. Erik Hanson has converted on 7-of-8 PATs while Kyle VanEekeren is a perfect 2-for-2. Stephen Mulkerrins served as the kicker last week and has converted on four-of-six PATs. Hanson is the only other player to attempt a field goal, an unsuccessful attempt from 25 yards in the home opener.Benedictine has missed seven extra-points this season, most in the conference, but has converted on five two-point conversions.

KICK THIS TIMES THREE
Brad Nolan is in his first season as a punter. Nolan has attempted 27 punts this year, fewest in the conference. A starter on the defensive line, Nolan is averaging 32.5 yards per punt, but has pinned opponents inside the 20 seven times, or on 26 percent of his attempts. The seven punts inside the 20 are tied for fourth most in the conference. Nolan owns a long of 65, which is the longest in the conference this year. Nolan owns a pair of punts over 50 yards.

KICK THIS FOUR
Benedictine has kicked off more than any other team in the conference. Benedictine has totaled 44 kickoffs this season. Concordia Chicago is second with 38. Benedictine averages 58.7 yards per kickoff, or to the opponents seven-yardline.

RUN OF SAMPLE
In addition to leading the offense through the air, Ryan Sample is also heavily involved in the rushing attack. Sample sits second in the conference with a team leading six rushing touchdowns. The junior scored three times on the ground in the loss to Lakeland, a career high. Sample added a rushing touchdown last week against Olivet but was sacked a season high five times.

STATE YOUR CASE
The 2016 roster features players from eight different states and a United States Territory (Puerto Rico). The roster features 24 seniors, 24 juniors, 19 sophomores, and 38 freshmen for a total of 105 players. Seventy four players come from Illinois. The next highest state in terms of representation on the roster is Indiana with 13. Ninteen of the 22 players listed on the offensive depth chart hail from Illinois along with three from Indiana. The defensive side is more diverse with 11 coming from Illinois.

RECORD WATCH
Ryan Sample is in sight of several school records. The junior is just two passing touchdowns away from the single season mark of 25 set by Preston Earl in 2010. Sample has thrown for 2,361 yards this year. The single season record for passing yards is 2,770 yards, set in 1992 by Ed Smith, who was inducted into the Benedictine Hall of Fame this fall. Sample is also just four touchdowns away from the career record of 47, also set by Smith. Sample owns 161 completions this year, just 23 away from Smith's mark of 184 from 1992. Smith attempted 345 passes in 1992, Sample owns 276 this year and has tried 45 or more passes three times. Should Sample stay healthy for another full season he has an opportunity to own most, if not all, of the Benedictine career quarterback records. Elijah Walker is closing in on the single season record for receiving yards, 1,189 owned by another Hall of Famer, Eric Green, also in 1992.

HONOR ROLL
Five different individuals have accounted for six total NACC Player of the Week awards this year. Jarrett Lecas was tabbed as the special teams award winner this week. Ryan Sample is the lone player to receive offensive honors following a win over St. Norbert. JaVon McBride was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after the October 1 win over Rockford. Jordan Wallace also earned defensive honors after the Rockford game. Victor Johnson is the lone repeat winner this year. Johnson has twice been named as the Defensive Player of the Week. Benedictine has received at least one honor after five of the games this season. Johnson was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after recovering three fumbles against Wheaton in the season opener. Sample received honors from D3football.com as well by taking part in the play of the week with a 48-yard run against Adrian.

WORTHLESS STAT?
Benedictine leads the conference in scoring at 38.7 points per game, 28^th in the nation, but ranks last in time of possession at just 26:33 per game.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING
Benedictine ranks 10th in the nation in passing offense at 340.1 per game, over 35 yards better than the second best team in the conference.

LEADERBOARD
Benedictine leads or is tied for the NACC lead in 20 different statistical categories.

LONG ROAD
Three of the final four games of the season will be played on the road. Benedictine played three consecutive contests at the Village of Lisle/Benedictine University Sports Complex from September 10-October 1. Benedictine has only one home contest remaining, a date with Concordia Chicago on next week. Benedictine has scored at least 29 points in each of the four home contests this year and is averaging 41.3 points per game at home. Among the scoring totals is a modern day record of 67 points against Rockford, which set a record for the Village of Lisle/Benedictine University Sports Complex. The 67 points were the most since a school record 106 in a 1924 win over Sheridan Athletic Club. Benedictine averages 34.6 points per game away from home.

MIAA MINUTE
The NACC and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association entered into a yearly agreement in 2012 to help with scheduling. The conferences play a yearly challenge where the schools from each conference are pitted against each other. Additionally, with an odd number of teams, the conferences play a second non-conference contest in a crossover on a conference bye week which was added to the agreement in 2014. Benedictine defeated Adrian 35-28 in the challenge on September 24 and lost to Olivet in ovetime last week in the crossover. The NACC has not fared well of late in the series after splitting the first three years. The MIAA won five of the seven games this year with Benedictine and Lakeland as the lone winners for the NACC. The MIAA owns a 25-10 edge in the series, sweeping all the games in 2015. Benedictine and Adrian have met in three consecutive seasons in the challenge game. Overall, Benedictine is 5-3 against the MIAA in the crossover/challenge games and has played Adrian, Albion, Olivet and Kalamazoo.

SCHEDULE STRENGTHS
Benedictine is facing a top notch non-conference schedule in 2016. The first three games of the year all came against schools predicted to win their conference. The full slate of foes boasted a combined regular season record of 36-4 in 2015. Three of the opponents won or shared conference titles. Benedictine opened with a 26-7 loss at Wheaton, currently ranked 12th in the nation. Wheaton, picked to win the CCIW, posted back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons in 2014 and 2015. The second contest featured a home game against the Midwest Conference favorite St. Norbert College. St. Norbert finished the regular season 10-0 last year. Adrian was selected as the preseason favorite in the MIAA. Olivet notched a 9-1 mark last season, sharing the MIAA crown. Olivet tied for second in the preseason poll. Benedictine owns a 2-2 mark in non-conference contests this season. The current combined record for non-conference opponents in 2016 is 22-7. Olivet and St. Norbert currently lead or are tied for their respective conference lead.

PLAYOFF PAST
Benedictine has made more playoff appearances than any school in the history of the NACC with three. With back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011, Benedictine became the first school to appear in the playoffs more than once from the conference. Benedictine fell 57-10 at St. Thomas in 2010 and dropped a 47-7 decision at Mt. Union in 2011. The most recent playoff appearance came in 2014 when Benedictine was sent 10 minutes across DuPage County to fall at Wheaton 43-14. The playoff appearances are the first three in program history. Lakeland became the only other program to make multiple appearances with last year's win over Benedictine.  The NACC has never won a playoff game. Concordia Chicago came the closest in 2012, losing 24-23 at home to Bethel in the only home postseason game for the conference, missing on a two-point conversion for the win at the end of regulation.