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LISLE, IL - Tanner Mateus kicked a game-winning 18-yard field goal in the cold, wind and rain with less than two minutes to go as the Benedictine University football team recorded a 17-14 win over visiting Eureka College in less than ideal conditions.
The rain did not start immediately, but the wind made it a tough day to pass the football so the running game was the name of the game for both teams from very early in the affair. Benedictine took a 7-0 lead on their first drive of the game, marching 70 yards on 11 plays. Eight of the plays came on the ground. Joshua Williams, who would go on to notch a fourth consecutive 100-yard game, scored the first touchdown on a nine-yard run. Williams broke away for a 68-yard run early in the second, but a fumble turned the ball over. Eureka would tie the game on the final drive of the half, using seven rushes to score on a three-yard play with just 24 seconds to go in the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Michael Hawthorne intercepted a pass late in the third that set up Benedictine on a short field. Williams rushed in from a yard away to cap a seven-play drive, six of which were on the ground, making the score 14-7 with 12:28 remaining in the contest. Eureka instantly responded with a 13-play drive to tie the game again, converting on two fourth down plays including the touchdown, pulling even with 4:25 left.
Aided by a pass interference penalty, Benedictine drove inside the one. Williams was denied on a third down play and following a timeout, Benedictine lined up for the game-wining attempt. Mateus delivered on the try and with Eureka out of timeouts, the defense forced three incompletions to end the game and secure a fourth consecutive victory.
Eureka gained 216 yards on the ground and held the ball for 36:25, but Benedictine claimed the victory, rushing for 227 yards as neither team eclipsed 300 yards in the game. The teams attempted a combined 25 passes with Benedictine throwing just eight times. Williams ran for 190 yards a pair of touchdowns, averaging over eight yards per carry as Benedictine ran the ball 37 times.
John Bryles led the defense with 12 tackles and a sack. Braxton White added 11 and Scottie Bobeck also tallied 11 stops.
The win sets up Benedictine (5-2, 4-0 NACC) for a game with fellow conference unbeaten Aurora on the road next week in a contest that could determine the conference champion.