LISLE, IL - The Benedictine University football team scored the first two touchdowns and received a pair of rushing performances near 100 yards to topple visiting Wisconsin Lutheran College and score a 40-31 homecoming victory.

Wisconsin Lutheran received the opening kick and marched to the Benedictine 28-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Benedictine responded with a 72-yard drive, requiring less than two minutes to grab a 6-0 lead. Jameel Stephens hauled in a 30-yard touchdown from Nick Sternad to account for the first points of the day. Brandon Moore helped to set up the score with a 29-yard reception.

Wisconsin Lutheran again drove to the Benedictine 29-yard line before stalling on fourth down. A near identical 72-yard drive enabled Benedictine to stretch the lead to 13-0. Moore snared a 33-yard pass to help Stephens grab a six-yard touchdown with 3:22 left in the opening quarter.

The lead extended to 20-0 midway through the second. Utilizing a short field after the defense pinned Wisconsin Lutheran inside the 10 before forcing a three-and-out, Benedictine needed seven plays to march 40 yards, scoring on an eight-yard rush from Joshua Williams with 7:53 to go in the first half. Wisconsin Lutheran scored the final 10 points of the half to pull within 10 at the break.

Benedictine opened the second half with a long 12-play drive, grinding to a 27-10 lead on a two-yard run from Quin Brown on a third down play. Moore converted a on a third down early in the drive with a 25-yard reception. Wisconsin Lutheran instantly answered with a nine-play scoring drive, again battling within 10 points at 27-17. James Ellis returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, his second kickoff return for a score this season, putting Benedictine ahead 34-17.

The visitors embarked on another long drive spanning the third and fourth quarters, battling within 34-24 early in the fourth after a 10-play drive. A pair of three-and outs for Benedictine on back-to-back possessions allowed Wisconsin Lutheran to pull within 34-31 with 6:13 left. Brown took over, essentially ending the game. The junior carried the ball on all seven plays of a drive, amassing 61 yards with a 29-yard burst, plunging into the endzone with 2:44 remaining to account for the final points. The defense was able to stop Wisconsin Lutheran on fourth down to end the contest.

Benedictine accumulated 341 yards, 144 on the ground and 197 through the air. Brown carried 13 times for 99 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Williams countered with 24 carries for 96 yards and a score. Sternad finished an efficient 15-for-21 through the air with 197 yards and two scores. Moore finished with five catches for 100 yards. Stephens also reeled in five passes with two touchdown grabs.

Scottie Bobeck led a balanced defensive effort with 12 tackles. Frank Veal III notched nine stops with Jack Drummond adding seven. Benedictine posted four sacks. Ellis tallied the lone turnover, an interception early in the fourth.

Benedictine (2-4, 2-1 NACC) has won two in a row and travels to Eureka next Saturday in the first conference meeting between the two programs.