OLATHE – A foothold on the Heart South Championship and the conference's automatic berth into the 2024 NAIA Football Championship Series is on the line Saturday as (7) Benedictine travels to take on (12) MNU at the Olathe District Actives Center.
Saturday's match-up is the Heart Conference Network Game of the Week – the fourth time the Ravens have been featured this season. Tickets can be purchased at https://vivenu.com/event/mnu-football-vs-benedictine-college-k81a9x. The game will be streamed on the Heart Conference Network at https://heartconferencenetwork.com/mnu/.
The Ravens enter the game at 7-1 and are 3-0 in the Heart South while the Pioneers enter the game at 7-0 and are also 3-0 in the Heart South. Benedictine has won 7 of the last 10 meetings with MNU but the Pioneers hold the series lead over the Ravens since 2005. Last year's 38-31 win on O'Malley Field gave the Pioneers a 10-9 series over that time frame. Benedictine leads the all-time series 25-16.
MNU leads the Heart South in points per game at 52 while Benedictine ranks third at 41.9. The two teams are one and two in the Heart South in total offense with Benedictine at 3,705 yards and MNU at 3,494 yards. The Ravens hold the advantage in passing yards with 2,585 yards to MNU's 1,797 yards but the Pioneers have the edge in rushing yards at 1,697 to Benedictine's 1,120.
Defensively, the Pioneers have limited their opponents to 10.3 points per game while the Ravens have allowed 26.4 points per game so far this season. The Ravens lead the Heart South in sacks with 25 while MNU is right behind 24. Benedictine has the edge in interceptions with 12 while MNU has 11.
The Ravens currently rank fifth in the NAIA in passing yards per game (323.1) and passing yards (2,585). Defensively, the Ravens rank fifth in the NAIA in defensive touchdowns (5) and are sixth in sacks (25).
After Saturday, the Ravens return home to host Central Methodist on Nov. 9 for Senior Day and Stars & Stripes Day.
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