Pioneers Win Shootout With Ravens, 49-39

What gave were the defenses as #5 MidAmerica Nazarene and #7 Benedictine combined for nearly 800 yards of total offense and 88 points as the Pioneers claimed a 49-39 win over the Ravens on Saturday afternoon in the NAIA Game of the Week.

The result created a logjam at the top of the conference standings as MNU, Benedictine and Missouri Valley all sit with one loss as the teams have traded wins over each other. The Vikings handed the Pioneers a 26-21 defeat back on September 10 before Benedictine downed Missouri Valley last Saturday, 35-19.

Things could not have gone much better early on for MNU (6-1, 5-1 HAAC), scoring 21-straight points to break an early 7-7 tie thanks to a 1-yard run by Ashford Johnson, a 16-yard pass from Sean Ransburg to Brett Houchen and a 39-yard fumble return by Dantren Anderson.

Benedictine was able to briefly stem the tide with a 24-yard field goal with 4:26 left in the half, but the Pioneers would score again on a 3-yard scamper by Ransburg for a 35-10 halftime advantage.

"We started the game very electric," said MNU head coach Jonathan Quinn. "We came out with a great sense of urgency, a lot of energy and enthusiasm and really came out on fire.

The second half could not have looked any different as the Ravens came out of the intermission with all of the energy the Pioneers had to start the game.

The Ravens' defense forced punts on each of the first three MNU possessions of the half and the offense converted each of those opportunities. Bill Noonan connected on touchdown passes of 43 and 38 yards to Geoff Akpom sandwiched around a 6-yard toss to Jordan Jackson. At the 4:31 mark of the 3rd quarter, the Ravens were back in it at 35-31.

"We came out of halftime kind of flat," said Quinn, whose defense yielded 187 yards on those three drives after allowing just 108 in the entire first half. "(Benedictine) responded really well like I knew they would with a great surge catching us on our heels there in the 3rd quarter. Luckily we were able to pull this one together."

The spark MNU needed to regain its composure came from RB Scotty Cates, who took the first play on the ensuing possession for 12 yards to reignite a new-look, up-tempo Pioneers' offense. The run sparked a 8-play, 60-yard drive that Cates finished off with a 18-yard catch and run for a touchdown, ending the 21-point spurt by the Ravens.

"It was something I thought would work against them," said Quinn of the up-tempo attack that led to 444 total yards and no scoring drives that took more than 2:54. "They're a big, powerful, strong, in-your-face team and I thought the up-tempo might be able to catch them off guard."

After both teams had marched up and down the field for three quarters, the defenses tightened up early in the fourth to force a trio of punts. The MNU defense had two key plays late that helped stretch its home winning streak to 27 games.

With the Ravens set up for a 4th-and-1 at the MNU 46, Noonan pitched the ball to Cameron Fore, who was met by Matt Cobb in the backfield to force the turnover on downs.

Though the Pioneers came up empty on the next possession, Anderson struck again as he jumped a short pass intended for Akpom and picked off Noonan. This time, the MNU offense was able to convert as Johnson converted a 4th-and-1 of his own for a 2-yard TD run.

"The title was on the line and we wanted a piece of it, so we came out and tried to get it," said Anderson, who had 8 tackles after earning the HAAC Defensive Player of the Week award last week. "They ran that play once in the first half, so once I saw the motion, I knew it was that play and just took a chance and jumped it."

Benedictine (7-1, 5-1 HAAC) got on the board one more time late as Ray Gragg ripped the ball from Johnson and returned the fumble 25 yards for a TD. However, the onside kick attempt bounced out of bounds to end the threat of a comeback.

Ransburg finished 28-of-40 for 243 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 14 times for 72 yards and a score. James Tillman led the MNU rushing attack with 86 yards on 20 carries and a TD while Johnson had 40 yards.

Noonan completed 17-of-33 for 223 yards and 3 TDs with three interceptions. Jackson led the Ravens with 6 catches for 78 yards and a TD while Akpom had a game-high 115 yards on five catches with two touchdowns.

MNU is on the road next Saturday, October 29 at Graceland while Benedictine returns home to host Avila in its Homecoming game.