Ravens Football used stellar defense and a strong rushing attack to take down Evangel University on Saturday.
The Ravens defeated the Crusaders 24-6 at home on O'Malley Field inside Larry Wilcox Stadium.
Benedictine rushed 57 times for 256 yards while holding Evangel to 256 total yards, rushing and passing combined. The Ravens defense also forced three turnovers – two fumbles and an interception – in their first win over Evangel since 2017.
The Ravens opened the game heading into a strong wind coming from the south. However, the offense stayed completely on the ground on the first drive, rushing the ball 10 times. The drive was capped off by a Rayshon Mills 11-yard touchdown run.
Later in the first quarter, the Crusaders answered with a touchdown of their own. Dyllan Decker connected with Sam Buckner for the touchdown pass, but the extra point missed as the Ravens maintained a 7-6 lead. It wound up being the only score of the game for Evangel.
The Ravens used the ground game again in the second quarter. Garett Kettle scampered for a 9-yard touchdown run to put Benedictine up 14-6.
After an Evangel field goal attempt was blocked by Connor Haynes, the Ravens extended their lead to 11 points thanks to Matt Heinrich's 51-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter, giving the home side a 17-6 lead at halftime.
The rushing game was a big factor in the first half as the Ravens racked up 136 yards on the ground on 26 attempts, good for a 5.2 yards per rush average. Conversely, they held Evangel to 19 yards rushing, not accounting for 26 yards lost on a muffed punt snap for the Crusaders.
Brett Shepardson recorded two sacks in the first half for the Ravens. He entered the game with 4.5 sacks on the season, the second-best mark in the NAIA. Shepardson finished the game with three solo tackles and assisted on two others. Konner Walker had six tackles and two assists.
The defense remained stout in the second half. Evangel's first drive of the second half made it inside the Ravens 10 yard line, but on fourth-and-1, Jalen James and Shepardson stuffed the Crusaders Jachin Like for a turnover on downs.
The Crusaders first drive of the fourth quarter also reached the Ravens 10 yard line, but this time Decker's pass was intercepted by Joshua Morris. The ensuing Ravens drive lasted 12 plays and ate up over 6 minutes of the clock, with Mills driving in for a 6-yard touchdown run. Mills finished with 141 yards on 26 carries, notching two scores. Kettle had 73 yards on the ground for the Ravens, as well.
The Ravens defense made the 24-6 score hold up, improving their record to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Heart South Division. The Ravens gave up just 38 yards on the ground, improving on the second-best rush defense in the country, which was giving up just 59 yards per game heading into Saturday's contest.
Next up for the Ravens will be road games at Central Methodist University and MidAmerica Nazarene University on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, respectively. They'll finish out the regular season with two home games, the first coming at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 against Baker University.
