Passing records set, Football loses aerial battle with Benedictine

MEQUON, Wis. – Pass after pass after pass, Concordia Wisconsin and Benedictine kept going at each other on Saturday afternoon at Tomasini Stadium in a game that featured a combined 1,219 yards of total offense and 1,000 yards passing. In the end, it was the Eagles who flew a little further in a 51-49 NACC victory.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Benedictine 51, Concordia Wisconsin 49
Location: Tomasini Stadium (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Benedictine 4-1, 2-0 NACC; Concordia Wisconsin 2-3, 0-2 NACC
Length of Game: 3:44

QUOTING HEAD COACH GREG ETTER

HOW IT HAPPENED
- It appeared early on as if Benedictine was going to blow the game wide open and put things out of reach after building a 16-0 lead just 10 minutes into the game. However, a gritty Concordia Wisconsin group would answer by scoring five of the next seven touchdowns to go ahead 35-31 after three-quarters of play.
- Both teams traded passing touchdowns in the final quarter, but a late Ryan Sample connection with Jose Santiago with 34 seconds left on the clock was the difference.
- Running the ball was an afterthought, as both teams combined for 1,000 yards passing on 72-of-124 passing for 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.
- Both teams were a combined 8-of-11 on fourth-down conversions, with Benedictine succeeding in all five of its attempts. The Eagles were 5-of-7 in the red zone and the Falcons were 4-of-5 – all ending in a touchdown.
- Junior Aaron Nixon (North Prairie, Wis.) set the program and NACC record for passing yards with 551 and offensive plays with 83. He was 41-of-65 passing and tossed five touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. He also ran for two scores to account for every touchdown the Falcons had in the game.
- Senior Danté Edwards (Glendale, Ariz.) had a career game with 11 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He had touchdown receptions of 10 and 29 yards, both occurring in the fourth quarter.
- Junior Kevin Folker (Milwaukee, Wis.) hauled in eight passes for 150 yards and twice scored to set new career bests. His 59-yard touchdown in the second quarter was the second longest of the day for Concordia Wisconsin.
- Freshman Isaiah Tenette (Sacramento, Calif.) had 120 yards receiving on five catches and scored a 63-yard touchdown on a back-and-forth run in the opening quarter.
- Defensively, junior Albert Goerlitz (Withee, Wis.) led the Falcons with a career-best 11 total tackles (four solo), while sophomore Jeffrey Arredondo (Chandler, Ariz.) had nine tackles and his first career interception early in the fourth quarter.
- Sophomore Robert Woods III (Chicago, Ill.) and senior Malcolm Bowers (Germantown, Wis.) each had two pass breakups, with Bowers picking off a career-best two passes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Concordia Wisconsin had 17 possessions in the loss and seven resulted in a score.
- The Falcons set the NACC single game team record for passing yards (551) and tied the record for passing completions (41).
- Sophomore James Dills (Milwaukee, Wis.) had a career-high seven tackles.
- Junior Maxwell Fischer (Joliet, Ill.) recorded his first career sack midway through the second quarter and senior Andrew Sprader (Suamico, Wis.) picked off his first career pass before halftime.
- Sophomore Jacob Mason (Hartford, Wis.) was a perfect 7-of-7 on PATs.

THE OPPOSITION
- Ryan Samples ended the victory 31-of-59 passing for 449 yards and six touchdowns, but did throw four interceptions.
- Elijah Walker hauled in 12 passes for 185 yards and scored three touchdowns.
- Derrick Miles rushed for 86 yards on 14 carries and four the end zone once.
- Danny Drummond led all defensive players with 12 tackles (six solo), while Jarret Lecas had 10 tackles (five solo) and two pass breakups.
- Maison Bittner and Juwaun Hampton each had two pass breakups. Victor Johnson and Connor Whitman each intercepted a pass.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- The Falcons travel to Wisconsin Lutheran for a 1 pm NACC contest next Saturday (October 15).