(12) Football closes out Heart cross-division play with 29-point win over Culver-Stockton

CANTON, Mo. – Benedictine football shutout Culver-Stockton College in the second half on Saturday while scoring 28 unanswered en route to a 45-16 win.

The No. 12-ranked Ravens closed out Heart cross-division play at 5-1 as they moved to 16-0 all-time against the Wildcats. Benedictine had arguably their most balanced game of the season offensive, wracking up 529 yards of total offense. They passed for 284 yards while rushing for 256. 

Defensively, Saturday's win over the Wildcats also marked the third time this season the Ravens held their opponents to under 100 yards rushing as Culver-Stockton finished the game at 84 yards on the ground. Benedictine finished with 4 sacks for a loss of 42 yards and a total of 8 tackles for a loss of 48 yards.

After the Wildcats took the opening kick-off and converted their first drive of the game for a touchdown, Benedictine was only able to answer with a 21-yard field goal from Harry Balke. After the Wildcats added a field goal of their own late in the first quarter, it looked as though the Wildcats would take a 9-3 lead into the second quarter. Garrett Kettle connected on a 71-yard pass to Jacob Gathright for a touchdown with 1:07 remaining in the quarter to take their first lead. It was a lead they never gave back.

Benedictine scored three times in the second quarter. Kettle hit Harry O'Neill on a 32-yard touchdown pass before he scored on a 59-yard rushing touchdown. JaShawn Todd threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Reed Levi with 2:54 left in the half to push Benedictine into halftime leading 31-16.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Ravens added their final points of the game in the first 5 minutes of the fourth. Kettle scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown and then capped off the day with a 38-yard pass to Gathright for the duo's second touchdown connection of the game.

Kettle led the Ravens in rushing with 141 yards on 13 carries while passing for 267 yards on 16 of 25. Rayshon Mills finished with 47 yards rushing while Gathright was the Ravens leading receiver with 142 yards off 7 receptions. 

Gavin Spangler and Dwayne Lacy finished with 6 tackles each for the Ravens. Lacey recorded a sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss while Spangler added 1.5 tackles for a loss. Isaac Anderson added 2 sacks for a loss of 24 yards while Tyler Wilson recorded the remaining sack for a loss of 8 yards. Lamont Shamburg recorded a forced fumble that Javhi Bloomquist recovered while Abram Phillips added an interception.

The Ravens enter a conference-wide bye week on Oct. 8 and return to play on Oct. 15 as they open up Heart South play hosting Central Methodist University. Kickoff from O'Malley Field at Larry Wilcox Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

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