Crusaders Visit Ravens In Battle of HAAC Unbeatens

The matchup: #12 Benedictine (4-0, 2-0) vs. #25 Evangel (2-1, 2-0), Larry Wilcox Stadium, 1:00 p.m.

The series: Benedictine leads, 13-12, including 12-8 mark in HAAC play

Last meeting: Benedictine 38, Evangel 19 (Sept. 11, 2010)

About the Ravens: Benedictine withstood a slow start and an energetic opening quarter from Peru State to down the Bobcats, 47-21, last week. The nation's top rushing defense continued to post impressive totals, allowing just 53 yards on 27 attempts. The defense forced six turnovers and gave the offense the ball in Peru State territory six times in the opening half. While the offense took a while to get going and wasted a number of short fields, QB Bill Noonan and WR Geoff Akpom had their way in a second quarter that produced touchdown passes of 6, 18 and 14 yards. Despite the impressive numbers, this week will provide the stiffest test of the season for the Ravens on either side of the ball. A defense with plenty of playmakers will once again rely on the senior linebacker tandem of Moses Kato and RJ Nill, who have combined for 36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Safety Ashton Stephens has three interceptions to lead a secondary that already has 11 picks in four games. Phil Brotherton gives the Ravens a nice weapon in the return game as he is averaging 11.3 yards per punt return.

About the Crusaders: Credit Evangel for not letting a season-opening 42-0 loss to FCS-member Nicholls State set a damper tone to the campaign. The Crusaders came back nine days later to upset Baker before surviving a bit of a scare against Culver-Stockton to set up this matchup of teams with 2-0 league marks. With its first national ranking since the 2007 season in tow, the Crusaders will still have their hands full against the top defense in the conference. The Evangel run defense deserves some headlines as well after allowing 1.7 and 1.3 yards per carry, respectively, in its last two games, as the season numbers are bloated a bit by the Nicholls State contest. The Crusaders got a boost from special teams last week as Jesse Vaughn tallied a 84-yard punt return for a touchdown to break a 10-10 tie. QB Andrew Brimhall has yet to throw an interception in 84 attempts this season, giving him the second-longest streak in team history. He is only completing 37 percent of his passes, but the lack of turnovers is an important stat. Tommy Meyer leads the rushing attack with an impressive 6.3 per carry average and two touchdowns.