Down four starters for part of the first half, the Benedictine University football team suffered a 26-12 loss to visiting St. Norbert on homecoming.

Benedictine opened the game by marching 80 yards on 12 plays to open a 6-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run from Nathan Rillo with 9:39 remaining in the opening quarter. Tyler Jarnagin was 5-for-5 on the drive and also ran for 10 yards. The visitors answered with a 58-yard touchdown to take the lead on the ensuing possession.

Benedictine turned to the run game in the second quarter and took a 9-7 lead on a 24-yard field goal from Tanner Mateus with 3:05 remaining in the opening half. The drive was set up by a Michael Dinaso interception. Rillo completed three passes on the 10-play drive.

Defenses took over in the second half. A big punt return placed St. Norbert in plus territory, eventually scoring the deciding touchdown late in the third. The visitors recovered a fumble and added to the lead with 4:14 remaining in the contest. Evan Wydajewski authored a 14-play drive that covered 69 yards as Mateus added his second field goal, thi from 20 yards, to cut the deficit to 20-12. St. Norbert recovered the onside kick and scored a touchdown on the game's final play to account for the final.

Benedictine totaled 377 yards while surrendering just 336 and held a near five-minute edge in time of possession. Benedictine ran for 137 and threw for 240. Wydajewski threw for 122 yards while Rillo was involved in all facets, throwing for 50 yards, rushing for 22 and reeling in five passes for 92 yards in addition to punting five times. Deandre Holliday snared nine passes for 81 yards.

Dinaso recorded eight tackles with an interception and a pass breakup. Gessie Escudero paced the defense with 10 tackles including two for loss.

Benedictine (4-1, 2-1 NACC) travels to Lakeland next Saturday.