LISLE, IL - The Benedictine University football team shut down Concordia University Chicago 47-3 on senior day, scoring the final 40 points.
Benedictine turned the ball over on the opening drive of the game but forced a punt. Taking over at the eight-yardline, Benedictine marched 92 yards on 10 plays in 4:46 to open a 7-0 lead.
Derrick Miles scored on an eight-yard run with 5:43 left in the first to open the scoring.
Concordia Chicago followed with a lengthy drive, ticking off over eight minutes in a 19-play drive to kick a field goal and claw within 7-3. Benedictine would score the final 40 points of the game to run away.
JaVon McBride returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards and scooted into the endzone from three yards out four plays later to make the score 14-3 with 5:52 remaining in the first half.
Following a three-and-out,
Jesse Kilbourn reeled in a 23-yard pass from
Ryan Sample to extend the lead to 20-3 with 2:45 left in the second quarter. The touchdown enabled Sample to set the single season record for touchdowns, bettering the mark of 25 set by Preston Earl in 2010.
Connor Whitman intercepted a pass just before the half, setting up another rushing touchdown from McBride to make the score 26-3 at the half.
Elijah Walker broke free for a 47-yard touchdown catch on the first Benedictine possession of the second half. Benedictine forced a pair of turnovers to stretch the lead to 40-3 on a 22-yard pass from Sample to
Paul Gray. The touchdown marked the 48th career passing score for Sample, breaking the career mark of Hall of Famer Ed Smith. Benedictine was able to use virtually the entire roster in the game and scored one final time on a 37-yard interception return from
Mark Hammond late in the fourth quarter.
Benedictine racked up 414 yards on 64 plays while limiting Concordia Chicago to just 260, the fewest yards allowed this season. Concordia Chicago running back Lance Moise, the top rusher in the conference, was limited to just 18 yards on 13 carries. Benedictine used a balance of 192 yards rushing and 222 yards passing.
Sample completed 13 passes for 207 yards with three touchdowns. Ten different receivers caught passes in the game led by four from Kilbourn. Miles ran for 76 yards. 33 individuals posted tackles in the game led by 11 from
Maison Bittner.
Jarrett Lecas finished with eight tackles and an interception.
Scottie Bobeck also posted eight stops.
Brad Nolan punted four times with a long of 54 and placed two inside the 20.
Benedictine (6-3, 4-1 NACC) closes the season next Saturday at Aurora with an opportunity to claim at least a share of the conference championship.