DES MOiNES – No. 9 Benedictine Football scored 14 unanswered on No. 1 Grand View University on Saturday in the Heart-UEN Clash of the Week inside Duke Williams Stadium.
The final touchdown of the game came from the Benedictine punt coverage unit as Anthony Lonergan recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone after Grand View's Peyton Goode fumbled a Scotty Robertson 38-yard punt. The touchdown put the Ravens in the lead 21-17.
Grand View missed a potential game-tying field goal from 32 yards on the ensuing possession and then the Raven defense stepped up to force a turnover on downs with just under 2 minutes remaining in the game that allowed Benedictine to run out the clock and seal the upset.
The loss by Grand View snapped a 31-game winning streak that extended back to a NAIA FCS Quarterfinal loss in 2024. Additionally, the Vikings also saw their 73-game regular-season winning streak that was started the game after Benedictine's 25-13 win in Des Moines on Nov. 3, 2018.
Saturday's meeting between the two NAIA powers turned into a defensive battle as neither team was able to make a big play offensive. After Grand View managed a first-quarter field goal, the teams traded second quarter touchdowns. Benedictine took its first lead of the game at 7-3 midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Patrick Heitert. Grand View answered with just over 2 minutes remaining in the half with their first touchdown to take a 10-7 lead into the half.
Grand View extended the lead to 10 points midway through the third quarter, but that was the last points they could manage against the Benedictine defense.
Heitert scored his second rushing touchdown of the game with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter to trim the Ravens deficit down to 3 before Benedictine took the lead for good on the fumble recovery from Lonergan.
Benedictine finished with 337 yards of total offense – rushing for 119 while passing for 215. Heitert finished went 17 of 25, connecting with 8 different receivers. Christian Pitts finished with 51 yards on 3 catches while Joseph Lagafuaina added 50 yards on 4 catches.
Xiomar Hernandez led the rushing attack with 68 yards on 16 carries while Brendan Haisenleader added 50 yards on 7 carries.
Defensively, the Ravens finished with 5 tackles for a loss with Kyle Jordan recording a sack. Kolbe Sexton finished with 6 tackles while Trey Williams and Isaiah Hasten added 5 each.
Benedictine returns to Larry Wilcox Stadium on Sept. 26, hosting St. Ambrose University for Family Weekend at 1 p.m.
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