No. 3 Benedictine enters its regular-season finale against Missouri Baptist with a 9-1 overall record and a 5-0 mark in Heart South play as look to clinch the outright Heart South Championship with a win over the Spartans.
Today's game is available on the Urban Edge Network at https://www.urbanedgenetwork.net/watch/4623https://www.urbanedgenetwork.net/watch/4623. You can also follow along online with the KAIR Radio stream of Tom Kautz and Gus Kautz at https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3765/.
Benedictine is averaging 43 points per game while allowing 14.1 points per contest. The Ravens have scored 430 points through 10 games, compared with 141 points allowed.
Benedictine enters the match up averaging 436.3 yards of total offense, including 222.8 rushing yards per game.
The Ravens have rushed for 34 touchdowns and passed for 18 this season.
Benedictine has forced 24 turnovers, including 18 interceptions, and owns a plus-14 turnover margin.
The Ravens have limited opponents to 283.6 yards of total offense per game.
Benedictine is coming off a 48-13 victory at Missouri Valley, extending its winning streak to 9 games.
ABOUT BENEDICTINE
Benedictine enters the final week of the regular season with a 9-1 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in Heart South play.
The Ravens have rushed for 2,228 yards and 34 touchdowns while adding 2,135 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns.
Quarterback Patrick Heitert leads the offense with 1,757 passing yards and 16 touchdowns against just one interception.
The Ravens have relied on a steady dose of three runningbacks throughout the season. Xiomar Hernandez leads Benedictine with 842 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Hernandez has added 232 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, giving him 1,074 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. Brendan Haisenleder has contributed 359 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns, while Cooper Hajek has added 201 yards and 4 scores. Heitert has also rushed for 450 yards and eight touchdowns, accounting for 24 total scores.
Titan Osburn leads the Ravens with 498 receiving yards on 24 catches, averaging 20.75 yards per reception. Joseph Lagafuaina has a team-leading 25 receptions for 453 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, the Ravens have intercepted 18 passes, led by Isaiah Hasten with 5. Dylan Witherspoon has added 4 interceptions, while Anthony Lonergan has 3.
Kolbe Sexton leads the defense with 59 tackles, followed by Ben Gilliland with 48.
ABOUT MISSOURI BAPTIST
Missouri Baptist enters the week with a 2-6 overall record and an 0-4 mark in Heart South play.
The Spartans opened the season with losses to St. Ambrose and William Penn, while earning victories over Peru State and Mount Mercy.
Missouri Baptist has dropped four consecutive games, including a 14-13 decision at Central Methodist in its most recent outing.
The Spartans are averaging 17.5 points and 289.6 yards of total offense per game.
Missouri Baptist has generated 1,550 passing yards and 767 rushing yards through eight games.
Quarterback Grant Gibson has completed 82 of 159 passes for 958 yards and five touchdowns. Mikey Gow has added 506 passing yards and four touchdowns in four appearances.
Elijah Stevens leads the Spartans' rushing attack with 324 yards and two touchdowns.
Zay Hamilton is Missouri Baptist's leading receiver with 32 catches for 433 yards, while Jordan Johnson leads the team with four receiving touchdowns.
Defensively, Missouri Baptist has allowed 319.9 yards per game, including just 99.1 rushing yards.
The Spartans have recorded 51 tackles for loss and 19 sacks.
Josiah Dye leads Missouri Baptist with 49 tackles, followed by Brach Carrington with 45. Carrington has recorded a team-leading seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Jakobe Smith and Jaylon Williamson have each intercepted two passes.
WHAT TO WATCH - RAVENS RUSHING ATTACK vs. MBU DEFENSIVE FRONT
One of the key match ups to watch today features Benedictine's rushing offense against Missouri Baptist's defensive front.
The Ravens enter averaging 222.8 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry.
Benedictine has rushed for 34 touchdowns, led by Xiomar Hernandez with 11 and quarterback Patrick Heitert with eight.
Missouri Baptist has limited opponents to 99.1 rushing yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry.
The Spartans have also recorded 51 tackles for loss and 19 sacks, led by Brach Carrington's seven tackles for loss.
The ability of Benedictine to establish its rushing attack against Missouri Baptist's defensive front could play a significant role in determining the tempo of the game.
WHAT TO WATCH - TURNOVER BATTLE
Benedictine enters the match up with a plus-14 turnover margin, compared with Missouri Baptist's minus-six mark.
The Ravens have forced 24 turnovers, including 18 interceptions, while committing 10.
Missouri Baptist has committed 18 turnovers in eight games, including nine interceptions and eight lost fumbles.
Benedictine's secondary has produced 18 interceptions while limiting opposing quarterbacks to a 49.1% completion percentage.
The Ravens' ability to create turnovers against a Missouri Baptist offense that has struggled with ball security could provide additional scoring opportunities.
UP NEXT
Benedictine finishes the final week of the regular season with a bye on Nov. 14. A win today not only locks up the Heart South title, it would secure the Ravens automatic berth into the 2026 NAIA Football Championship Series. The NAIA FCS Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15 on the NAIA's official YouTube Channel at 6 p.m. CT.
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