Box Score ATCHISON, Kan. – On Saturday at noon in Atchison, Kan., the No. 10-ranked Southwestern College football team matched up with the No. 6-ranked Ravens of Benedictine College in the NAIA Football Championship Series First Round. In the Builders' second straight trip to the NAIA FCS, they ran into a worthy opponent in the Ravens, as SC failed to score until the final frame of the battle in a 35-7 loss to end their 2022 campaign.
"I am just super proud of the guys," stated head coach Brad Griffin. "They battled through tons of adversity and injuries all year. Different guys stepped up throughout the year, and everyone else rallied around those guys. We never made excuses. It was, and always will be, next man up."
After each team failed to score on their opening possessions, the Ravens took advantage on their next chance with the pigskin by punching in an 8-yard rush for a score. The play came on the heels of a 12-play, 73-yard drive by Benedictine. Southwestern's offense looked overmatched throughout the first quarter of this battle, as they could not pick up a first down on any drive in the period. The Moundbuilder defense stepped up, though, allowing only the single score in the opening frame. It was a 7-0 Benedictine lead after one.
The Builders would pick up their first new set of downs in the second quarter, as Keyshawn Jones was responsible for a 12-yard rush to begin the possession. Unfortunately, things stalled, and the Builders handed the ball back to Benedictine after just three more plays. Quickly, the Ravens continued to be advantageous, scoring a second-quarter TD on the ensuing drive. After a 33-yard pass that completed a 4th-and-1 conversion for BC, a 16-yard strike down the seam to a streaking tight end was hauled in for a score to double the Raven advantage. After another three-and-out for SC on the next possession, Benedictine delivered yet another quick scoring drive. They received beautiful starting field position at the Southwestern 22 yard-line, after Gabriel Medrano's punt was batted down by the wind for just a net of two yards. A four-play drive resulting in a 2-yard rush for a score by the Benedictine tailback would make it 21-0 with just over six minutes to play in the half. As a credit to the Moundbuilders, they showed heart on their last possession of the half. They put together a 12-play possession that amassed 55 yards and lasted 5:22. Unfortunately, that drive did not result in points, as a turnover on downs on a shot to the endzone on 4th-and-10 doomed the opportunity. Benedictine would kneel out the remaining 0:42 to head to the locker room up 21-0 over Southwestern.
Moving the ball started to become possible for SC starting on their final drive of the first half, and it would not stop there, as the first possession of the third quarter lasted 5:47 and went 11 plays deep. Converting on fourth down was not the team's strong suit today, though, as another one was racked up by the Builder offense on this occasion. The most regrettable thing about this particular turnover on downs was that the Ravens swiftly turned it into points with a 57-yard TD catch-and-run to make it 28-0. Offensively, the Builders would toss an interception on their next chance with the ball, but were able to lean on their defense to force a three-and-out. Then, another turnover on downs for SC would put BC back on the ball with 0:37 to play in the quarter. It was a 28-0 score after three.
A three-and-out to begin the fourth quarter from the Ravens put Southwestern in a better frame of mind to try to start a comeback, and their next drive would see them inside the Benedictine 10 yard-line at the seven with four chances to punch the ball into pay dirt. They failed to convert the first three attempts, and Luke Barnes attempted to run in the 4th-down play, but he was stuffed at the one yard-line. It seemed that SC could do nothing to get into the endzone, as the Ravens took over and quickly returned the ball to Southwestern after four plays. A 32-yard catch from Keyshawn Jones, though, would finally put the Moundbuilders on the scoreboard with 8:23 to play, as he dove in over the far pylon for the score. A three-play drive with 46 total passing yards was the highlight of the day for the offensive attack. Benedictine staked the proverbial nail in the coffin with their next drive, however, as SC attempted an onside kick but were thwarted. After pushing BC back to midfield with a 3rd-and-13 situation looming, the Benedictine QB fired a 50-yard missile down the near sideline to put the home team back up by 28 points at 35-7. Southwestern moved the ball nicely again on their next possession, but another turnover on downs after working the ball inside the Raven five yard-line would seal their fate. The 35-7 score would hold until the clock expired, sending the Builders home in 2022.
Barnes was the team's major passer in this game, though he had not been used for a majority of the season due to injury. Brad Cagle attempted to start but aggravated a previous ailment on a rush early in the first quarter. Barnes threw 37 times, while completing 19 passes for 267 yards. He tossed the lone Moundbuilder TD to Jones. He was sacked five times in the game, as the Benedictine pass rush was potent all day long.
The SC rushing attack was not at its most crisp, as Sommarra Hunter was tasked with lead back duties after Jaqulis Coleman and Martez Jones II were listed as inactive. He had 11 attempts for 42 yards in the game, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Jones was a part of the running game for Southwestern in addition to his receiving acumen. He had eight carries for 33 yards on the day, including one rush for 12 yards.
Jones raked in nine receptions in this one, compiling 145 yards as a pass catcher. He had the lone TD for the Builders, as it came on his longest catch of the day at 32 yards. Josh Edson (5 REC, 52 YDS) added several important catches, including a 14-yard grab that was the play preceding Jones' scoring catch. Layke Hoffman (3 REC, 49 YDS) and Matthew Holthusen (2 REC, 31 YDS) also had multiple catches for the Builder offense.
Defensively, Southwestern did not allow much yardage to be tallied against them, but were put in difficult spots with short fields on multiple occasions. A few of the main contributors on that side of the ball that held Benedictine to 339 yards of offense, were Riley Havird (6 TOT, 2 BRUP), Travon Crockett (6 TOT, BRUP), Josh Carter (6 TOT), Jaydon Griffin (BRUP) and Cameron Cornelius (SACK).
"Thank you to all these seniors," continued Griffin. "They are 25-6 over the past three years with two conference championships. That is definitely something to be proud of."
It is a bitter end to what was another outstanding season from the Moundbuilder football team. Southwestern (9-2, 9-1 KCAC) ends their 2022 season with as many wins as they had in the record-breaking 2021 season, and reached similar heights. The squad will back in 2023 with even greater goals in mind.
--buildersports.com--
