(RV) MNU scored the go-ahead touchdown on Saturday with 21 seconds remaining in the game to upset (14) Benedictine Football 38-31.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 21-0 lead on the Ravens only to watch that lead slip away as Benedictine battled back to tie the game at 24-all inside the first 5 minutes of the third quarter. The Pioneers scored 2 fourth quarter touchdowns to stop the Ravens comeback effort.
Penalties slowed the Ravens first drive of the game, and Benedictine was forced to punt. MNU's first touchdown came on a school-record 96-yard pass from Adrian Parsons to Arlandes Mitchel to put the Pioneers up early. After a bad snap led to a loose ball, MNU recovered and took over possession to set up their second touchdown. They scored a third touchdown with just under 5 minutes left in the quarter and the Ravens turned to the second quarter with the ball, trailing 21-0.
Benedictine's first touchdown was a 5-yard pass from Jackson Dooley to Tanner Zimmerman that capped off a 60-yard drive. MNU answered with a 49-yard field goal before the Ravens rattled off 10 points to close out the half. Harry Balke connected on a 26-yard field goal and Jacob Gathright caught a 15-yard pass from Dooley to close Benedictine within a touchdown at the half. The Dooley to Gathright touchdown was aided by a Heath Baker sack that stalled an MNU drive and led to a punt. A punt that was returned 75 yards by JaShawn Todd.
Dooley connected to Zimmerman for the Ravens first score of the third quarter on a 14-yard pass that proved to be the only points by either team in the quarter. Baker recorded another sack in the third quarter that led to a missed field goal from the Pioneers.
MNU regained the lead on a 26-yard pass before Dooley hit Joseph Lagafuaina on a 3-yard pass to tie the game for the second time at 31.
Defensively, the Ravens finished with 6 sacks for a loss of 31 yards with 10 tackles for a loss of 57 yards that limited MNU to just 34 yards rushing. Carson Anderson led the Ravens with 11 tackles while recording a sack a tackle for a loss. Baker finished with 9 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 4 tackles for a loss while Jared Herron added 1.5 sacks with Jagger Blubaugh recording the final sack.
Dooley finished with 248 yards on 25 of 44 passes with 4 touchdowns. Zimmerman had 7 receptions for 120 yards to lead the Ravens receivers while Dalton Witherspoon finished with 117 yards rushing off 15 carries. Witherspoon finished with 239 all-purpose yards adding 36 yards receiving and 86 kickoff return yards.
Saturday's result ends the Heart South schedule with a three-way tie for the conference title. MNU, Benedictine, and Baker have been named tri-champions since Baker beat MNU and Benedictine beat Baker.
The trio and the rest of the NAIA now wait for a 6 p.m. NAIA Football Championship Series Selection Show on Sunday. The show will be posted on the NAIA's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/PlayNAIA.
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