The No. 15-ranked Raven Football team rushed for a season high on Saturday and forced No. 18-ranked MNU into four turnovers en route to a 24-14 win over the Pioneers on O'Malley Field.
Benedictine (3-1) finished with 256 yards while picking up three fumbles and an interception as they hold MNU (3-1) to their second-lowest rushing total of the season with 131 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, the teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter. MNU scored early in the quarter on a nine-yard pass before the Ravens answered on a DeAndre Turner-Fults 12-yard rushing touchdown. The Turner-Fults touchdown capped off a 12-play, 72-yard drive that chewed up almost five minutes.
After the two teams went into the half locked up at seven points, it was the Ravens who struck first in the third quarter. Turner-Fults capped off a seven-play, 68-yard drive with a nine-yard rush to give Benedictine it's first lead of the day.
The Pioneers answered with seconds left in the quarter to pull back even with just the fourth quarter left to play.
After forcing two fumbles in the first half, the Ravens forced two more turnovers in the fourth quarter leading directly to 10 unanswered points to seal the win.
Turner-Fults gave the Ravens back the lead with his third rushing touchdown of the day, this time from 13 yards out. The score capped off a nine-play, 94-yard drive that was started after Matt Murrilo forced a fumble by MNU's Javon Taylor that was recovered by Tyler Thrasher.
On MNU's next possesion, Thrasher picked off quarterback Trey Cooper on the fourth play from scrimmage that led directly to a 32-yard field from Derek Rodgers to cap off the win for Benedictine. The Ravens used up just under three minutes to set up the Rodgers field goal.
Shane Baumann led the Ravens in tackles with 14, recording Benedictine's first double-digit total of 2016. Tyler Thrasher finished with eight as he recorded 1.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovering and an interception. Mario Diaz, Kourtlin Flournoy and Matt Murillo combined for three sacks while as a unit, the Ravens recorded nine tackles of a loss.
Turner-Fults rushed for a game-high 106 yards off 12 carries while Tyler Henness added 91 yards off 17 carries. Ejay Johnson gave the Ravens a third solid performance on the ground with 64 yards off 10 carries.
Jacob Koester finished 80 yards off eight completions while David Claypool caught two passes for 23 yards. Johnson also finished with 23 yards off two catches.
The Ravens turn their attention now to a rivalry match up with No. 4 Baker University in Baldwin City next Saturday. Kickoff with the Wildcats is set for 1 p.m. as the Ravens take on their second straight NAIA-ranked opponent.
