Ravens Football picked up a big home win Saturday afternoon.
The (4) Ravens defeated the Graceland University Yellowjackets, 52-29, improving to 2-1 on the season.
The Ravens had things under control early in the first half, leading the Yellowjackets 28-7 after a Xavier Ugorji touchdown run with 13 minutes to play in the second quarter. However, Graceland was able to score three-straight touchdowns to cut the Ravens lead to 28-22 with 1:19 left to play in the second quarter.
That's when the Ravens offense went into quick mode as Jackson Dooley led a 69-yard scoring drive in just over a minute, capping it off with a touchdown pass to Tanner Zimmerman to give the Ravens a 35-22 lead at halftime.
The Ravens then dominated the third quarter to put the game away, scoring three times. Ugorji scored early in the third on a 30-yard run, then JJ Jackson rushed in from 16 yards out. Christian Klobe scored the final Ravens points of the afternoon with a booming 52-yard field goal to put the Ravens up 52-22.
The Ravens defense nearly held the Yellowjackets off the board for the entire second half, but Graceland scored with 2 seconds left on the clock.
The Ravens got things going in the first quarter as the first Graceland drive of the game ended when Blake Casteel blocked a 40-yard field goal. The offense scored on their first drive as Dooley found Brayden Fucuals for a 14-yard score. After an Isaiah Hasten interception – the first of two picks for the defensive back – Dooley connected with Joseph Lagafuaina for a score.
The Ravens made it 21-7 with a Xiomar Hernandez touchdown run late in the first quarter.
Dooley finished the game with 269 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Lagafuaina caught 4 passes for 80 yards, Zimmerman had 4 catches for 38 yards, and Titan Osburn caught 3 passes for 65 yards. Ugorji led the rushing attack with 57 yards on 10 attempts.
The defense held Graceland to just 227 yards through the air despite the Yellowjackets attempting 52 passes. Hasten had a pair of picks, and Se'Korrey Thomas and Josh Boone also had interceptions for the Ravens. Casteel led the team with 9 tackles while Dylan Witherspoon added 7 tackles.
The Ravens will hit the road for their next contest, a 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 game at Clarke University.