Football Falls at #4 Benedictine in Heart Opener Despite Strong First Half
ATCHISON, Kan. – The Graceland University football team fell 52-29 on the road to Benedictine College on Saturday afternoon in its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener at Larry Wilcox Stadium. The Yellowjackets showed flashes of their offensive potential but were ultimately undone by turnovers and second-half inconsistencies against a veteran Benedictine squad.
With the loss, Graceland moves to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in Heart of America play, while Benedictine improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference action.
Quarterback CJ Brooks accounted for three touchdown passes, all to Gerald Monroe, and the Yellowjackets finished with 442 yards of total offense. Despite that output, Graceland struggled to contain the Ravens' balanced offensive attack, which scored touchdowns on six of its first nine drives and capitalized on four Yellowjacket interceptions.
"We made just too many mistakes today and missed out on opportunities that we needed to capitalize on to beat a good football team," said head coach Phil Staback. "Benedictine is a great program and we will learn a ton from our mistakes. I'm excited to get back to work—we've got a great team that has a high ceiling. We just need to find consistency and keep getting better. We're going to be tough to beat once we play consistent in all three phases."
First Half: High Pace and Big Plays
The first quarter featured a back-and-forth exchange, with the teams combining for four touchdowns in the opening 13 minutes. Benedictine struck first with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Dooley to Brayden Fucuals. After another quick score made it 14-0, Graceland responded with a scoring drive capped by a two-yard touchdown pass from Brooks to Monroe.
After Benedictine answered with another touchdown, the Yellowjackets found momentum again. Running back Tael Jean broke free for a 17-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 28-14 with 4:57 left in the second quarter. Just over three minutes later, Monroe added his second touchdown reception, a three-yard grab, and Jason Wagoner converted a two-point run to bring the score to 28-22.
However, the Ravens managed a critical touchdown just before halftime, executing an 8-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Zimmerman. That late score gave Benedictine a 35-22 lead at the break.
Turnovers and Third-Quarter Collapse
Graceland's deficit ballooned in the third quarter, as Benedictine scored 17 unanswered points in a span of under seven minutes. The Ravens opened the half with a 30-yard touchdown run by Xavier Ugorji, followed by a short touchdown rush by JJ Jackson after a blocked punt gave the home team a short field. A 52-yard field goal from Christian Klobe extended the lead to 52-22.
Turnovers continued to plague the Yellowjackets. Brooks threw four interceptions, two of which were returned deep into Graceland territory, setting up quick scoring chances for the Ravens. Benedictine's secondary forced key takeaways at pivotal moments, preventing the Yellowjackets from closing the gap.
Monroe Shines in Loss
Despite the defeat, senior wide receiver Gerald Monroe turned in a standout performance with five catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns, including a 35-yard scoring reception with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. His three-touchdown game marked a career high.
Quarterback CJ Brooks completed 15 of 51 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also rushed for 27 yards on seven carries. Backup quarterback Cristian Chaparro added a completion late in the game, connecting on a short throw to Garrison Allen.
Running back Javon Minor paced the rushing attack with 135 yards on 19 carries, averaging over 7 yards per attempt. Jean added 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while the Yellowjackets amassed 214 rushing yards overall.
Graceland's defense was led by Jacob Morales, who recorded eight total tackles. Zion Trimboli, Jalen Heath, and Antonio Reed also made key stops, while Trimboli had a second-quarter interception to briefly swing momentum.
Team and Game Stats
Graceland actually led in total offense, outgaining Benedictine 442 to 372, and held a significant edge in time of possession with 37:03 minutes to Benedictine's 22:57. The Yellowjackets also earned 30 first downs to the Ravens' 23.
However, four turnovers and 13 penalties for 128 yards proved too much to overcome. Graceland converted 8 of 18 third downs, while Benedictine went 5-for-12. On fourth down, Graceland was just 2-of-6.
The Ravens finished with 269 yards through the air and 103 on the ground, spreading the ball among eight different receivers. Dooley threw for three touchdowns, while Ugorji and Jackson combined for three rushing scores.
Kicker Aiden Freeman went 3-for-3 on extra points for Graceland, while Benedictine's Christian Klobe was a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs and nailed a 52-yard field goal.
Coach's Outlook Moving Forward
Staback acknowledged the difficulty of opening conference play against a traditional Heart of America power but emphasized that the team has the talent to bounce back.
"We've got guys who can make plays on both sides of the ball," he said. "We just have to clean things up and put together a full game. We're right there. Once we find consistency, especially in special teams and limiting mental errors, we'll be very hard to stop."
Up Next
Graceland (1-1, 0-1 Heart) travels to St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday, Sept. 20, for a road matchup against Missouri Baptist. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CDT.
To watch the game live, click here, and to follow live stats, click here.
For more information on Graceland football and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.