It what could easily be considered and championship-level game in a season opener, No. 4 Benedictine Football took the series lead over No. 3 Morningside University on Saturday with a 38-34 win in the Heart-UEN Clash of the Week.

Morningside took a 3-point lead with just under 7 minutes left in the game. After trading possessions, Benedictine took possession with 3:30 left in the game and capped off a 13-play, 79-yard drive with a Jackson Dooley keeper to take a 38-34 lead that proved to be the game-winning touchdown.

Benedictine opened the scoring on their first possession. Xavier Ugorji scored on a 24-yard rush, followed by a Christian Klobe point after to stake the Ravens to an early lead. Morningside followed with a pair of touchdowns – a 35-yard pass and a 20-yard rush – to take a 14-7 lead.

It took Benedictine 9 seconds in the second quarter to tie the game at 14. Kameron Dover caught a 59-yard pass from Dooley to pull the Ravens even early in the quarter. Benedictine's drive started in the first quarter after Dylan Witherspoon picked off Morningside's Zack Chevalier.

Klobe capped off the scoring in the first half with a 43-yard field goal as the Ravens shutout the Mustangs to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.

The third quarter started with the two teams trading long touchdown plays. Morningside regained the lead with a 49-yard screen pass inside the first two minutes. On the Ravens first place from scrimmage, Dooley connected with Titan Osburn who took off down the Morningside sideline for a 70-yard touchdown reception 21 seconds after Morningside scored.

The Mustangs regained the lead, but the PAT failed to pull back ahead by 3 points, 27-24. They held the Ravens in check to keep the lead until Benedictine picked off Chevalier for the second time with just under 3 minutes left in the third quarter. Isaiah Hasten returned his interception for 34 yards to set the Ravens offense up for their next touchdown. Dooley hit Joseph Lagafuaina for an 8-yard touchdown to put Benedictine back in front 31-27 with just over 1 minutes left in the third.

Benedictine opened the fourth quarter by forcing a fumble that resulted after the initial first-down call was overturned after a Benedictine challenge. Morningside took back the lead, 34-31, with 6:39 left in the game and forced Benedictine to punt on their next possession. The Ravens defense held the Mustang to a 3-and-out, getting the ball back at their own 22 with 3:30 left in the game to set up their final drive.

Morningside was only able to attempt to plays after Dooley's go-ahead touchdown, both incomplete passes as the Ravens sealed the win. 

Dooley finished with 280 yards on 20 of 37 passing with 3 touchdowns. Ugorji led the Ravens rushing attack with 91 yards on 14 carries while Dalton Witherspoon added 58 yards on 10 carries. Osburn led the Raven receivers with 93 yards on 3 catches, Dover finished with 73 yards on 4 catches, followed by Lebron Jackson with 50 yards on 4 catches while Lagafuaina added 49 yards on 3 catches. 

Lagafuaina finished with 127 kickoff return yards on 4 returns with a long of 68 yards. Klobe averaged 60.4 yards per kickoff with 2 touchbacks while connecting on 5 PATs.

Zachary LaCombe led the Ravens with 12 tackles. Peyton Jobe added 7 while Xavier Hernandez added 6 tackles and was in on one of the Ravens four sacks. Cole Johnson finished with 2 sacks with Jason Anderson and Joseph Abrams also recorded a sack. Jobe, Christen McAfee and Abrams all were credited with a force fumble while Nehemiah Hicks recorded a fumble recovery.

The Ravens will hit the road for Week 1 of the regular season, taking on defending NAIA Champs, and No. 1-ranked Grand View University, in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday at 12. The game is also the second Heart-UEN Clash of the Week.