Box Score Traveling over eight hours, the Benedictine University football team kicked off the 2024 season with a 34-7 win at Buena Vista University.

Buena Vista put together a long drive to start the game, marching 75 yards down the field on 13 plays to open a 7-0 lead with 6:30 left in the opening quarter. The hosts would managed very little offense over the next three quarters, failing to score again while not even equaling the yardage output from the first possession. Winston Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards to set Benedictine up with solid field position for their first drive. Benedictine converted on a pair of third downs, finding the endzone for the first time on the year when Evan Wydajewski hit Alex Siebens for a 13-yard score right before the end of the first to finish a 12-play drive and draw Benedictine within 7-6.

Taking over with just over four minutes until halftime, Benedictine was able to drive down and grab the lead for the first time, an advantage they would hold the rest of the way. Hundley Stallings reeled in his first of three touchdown grabs with 50 seconds left, a 25-yard grab. Receiving the ball to begin the second half, Benedictine ticked off over eight minutes to further the advantage to 20-7 on a five-yard catch by Stallings. After forcing a three-and-out Stallings hauled in a 28-yard score from Wydajewski to make the score 27-7 in the final minute of the third. The final points came in the closing seconds when Javier Acosta plunged in from three yards out to account for the final.

Benedictine accumulated 432 yards, holding the ball for almost 37 minutes of the contest. The offense was balanced with 164 on the ground and 268 through the air. The defense held Buena Vista to just 147 yards. Wydajewski was 20-for-28 with 257 yards and four touchdowns, completing his first eight passes. Eight players caught a pass. Stallings only caught three, but they were all four touchdowns. Blake Shoddie rushed 15 times for 83 yards. Jake Diamantos recorded six stops to lead the defense. Johnny Camillo recorded the lone turnover with an interception.

Benedictine (1-0) visits another member of the American Rivers Conference next week with a game at Loras.