First Half Dooms St. Norbert at Benedictine

From Sports Information Director, September 10, 2016 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

LISLE, Ill. - St. Norbert College fell behind 28-0 at halftime and couldn't recover in a 34-14 loss to Benedictine University in a non-conference game at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.

St. Norbert fell behind early after a long Benedictine punt return put the Eagles on the Green Knights' 10-yard line. Ryan Sample hit Elijah Walker for a 2-yard touchdown pass just 4:44 into the game for a 7-0 lead.

Benedictine doubled its lead on its next possession when it needed seven plays to march 80 yards capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Sample to Jesse Kilbourn at the 7:03 mark for a 14-0 lead.

Sample threw two more touchdown passes in the second quarter - an 11-yard strike to Kilbourn at 10:42 left and a 15-yard touchdown on fourth down to Paul Gray with 51 seconds left to give the Eagles a 28-0 edge at intermission.

St. Norbert had a lengthy drive result in a touchdown to open the second half. The Green Knights went 75 yards in 15 plays, converting six first downs, to score on a 12-yard touchdown pass from J.T. Crosby to Brad Boockmeier with 8:51 left in the quarter.

Benedictine countered on a 41-yard touchdown run by Derrick Miles on its next possession to take a 34-7 lead with 6:10 left in the period. St. Norbert scored on its next possession, with Boockmeier scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter - a touchdown that closed out the game's scoring.

Benedictine outgained St. Norbert 482-424 in total offense. Elijah Fort rushed 23 times for 130 yards to lead the Green Knights on the ground. Crosby completed 22 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Drew Chevarria caught nine passes for 52 yards.

Sample led the Eagles by completed 24 of 38 passes for 372 yards - 301 in the first half - and four touchdowns. Walker caught six passes for 110 yards and one touchdown. Miles rushed 11 times for 83 yards and one score.

Ryan Grandlic led St. Norbert's defense with 11 tackles, while Bison Woods added 10 stops.