Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
DE PERE, Wis. - St. Norbert College couldn't get on track and lost its home opener to Benedictine University 29-7 in a non-conference game at Schneider Stadium.
The Green Knights (0-2) were outgained 538-196 in total offense by the Eagles (1-1), which scored a touchdown in every quarter to take command.
Benedictine drove 95 yards in 11 plays on its second series, capped off when Joshua Williams crashed in from two yards out. Jacob Czerniakowski's two-point conversion run was good to give the Eagles an 8-0 lead with 7:01 left in the first quarter. The Green Knights got a big break near the end of the first quarter when the Eagles' fumbled at the St. Norbert 1-yard line, with the Green Knights recovering in the end zone for a touchback.
The Eagles held their lead until two seconds remained in the first half, scoring with that much time left in the quarter on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Sample to Brandon Moore for a 15-0 intermission lead.
Benedictine added to its lead when Colin Bursik was sacked in the end zone and fumbled, with Danny Drummond recovering for a touchdown and a 22-0 edge. The Green Knights responded three plays from scrimmage later when Bursik hit Elijah Fort on a short pass that ruptured into a 57-yard touchdown with 6:33 left in the third quarter.
St. Norbert then held Benedictine to a three-and-out and promptly drove to the Benedictine 7-yard line. The Green Knights then got a first-and-goal at the Benedictine 2 three plays later on a pass interference call, but an incomplete pass and three runs were stopped at the 1 to give the visitors a goal-line stand.
Benedictine's last touchdown came with 8:24 left on a 75-yard touchdown from Sample to Moore.
St. Norbert rushed for 60 yards and had 196 yards on 69 plays. Fort had 68 yards rushing on 22 carries and had a team-high three receptions for 62 yards. Bursik completed 11 of 25 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown.
Sample completed 26 of 44 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns. Moore caught eight passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams rushed 18 times for 59 yards and one touchdown. Drummond had 13 tackles with five tackles-for-loss, two quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery from his nose tackle position.
Benedictine committed 11 penalties for 120 yards in assessments. St. Norbert did not have any accepted penalties.