The NAIA Football Game of the Week lived up to billing as the No. 2 Baker University scored inside the final minute of the game to hold off the second-half comeback by No. 14-ranked Raven Football team.
Benedictine (4-1) rallied from a 18-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 37-all with 5:50 left to play in the game. Several controversial defensive penalties allowed Baker (5-0) to sustain their drive that eventually led to the game-winning touchdown.
The Ravens led early, scoring a safety as the Wildcats couldn't handle a bad snap on a punt deep inside their own end of the field.
From that point, the Wildcats offense was able to move the game's momentum into their favor. A pair of touchdown passes erased the deficit and pushed the Wildcats up 13-2.
Marquis Stewart ended the first quarter with a 26-yard touchdown run before the Wildcats scored 21 unanswered in the second quarter to take control of the game. The Ravens answered before the half as Shaefer Schuetz connected on a pass to Carl Hecht 5-yard touchdown.
Schuetz connected on touchdown passes of 9 yards and 18 yards to Aaron Jackson and Jameel Kirkland to pull the Ravens back within five heading into the fourth quarter.
After a Baker field goal extended the Wildcats lead, the Ravens were able to answer on a pass from Schuetz to Stewart. The duo connected for a second time on the two-point conversion to complete the Ravens comeback.
Offensively, the Ravens finished with 430 off 82 plays as they finished with 164 yards on the ground and 266 through air.
Schuetz completed 27 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Stewart finished with 81 yards rushing while Ejay Johnson added 79. Jackson led the receivers with 138 yards off 11 receptions.
Defensively, the Ravens recorded 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss - with the sack total the most sacks allowed by the Wildcats this season.
Jalen James led the Raven defense with 12 tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss. Daniel Freymuth, Brett Shepardson, Jarad Sheppard, Cody Sisson and Tyler Shepard also recorded a sack. Dayton Bush recorded a 44-yard interception return while Steve Williams.
Benedictine travels to Fayette, Mo., for their next game as the Ravens take on Central Methodist University in the Heart Game of the Week at 11 a.m.
