Turnovers haunt Wildcats as four-game winning streak ends

ATCHISON, Kan. — The Culver-Stockton College football time had their four-game winning streak broken Saturday afternoon with a 65-24 loss at Benedictine College. It marks the 32nd consecutive loss by the Wildcats against the Ravens.

The Ravens missed a field goal attempt on their initial drive. Culver-Stockton marched 80 yards on eight plays to take a 7-0 early lead. The score was a result of a 22-yard pass from quarterback Jase Orndorff to Isiah Eppinger.

An 85-yard drive by Benedictine would result in a tie game at seven apiece.

The Wildcats battled the ball to the Ravens’ 16-yard line on their next possession. Michael Velasco made a 33-yard field goal for a slight 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Then the wheels fell off for the Wildcats.

A miffed Wildcat punt would result in a go-ahead touchdown for Benedictine. Then, despite a nine-play drive that led the Wildcats to the Benedictine red zone, Velasco’s field goal attempt was blocked.

Following yet another scoring drive by Benedictine, Orndorff threw an interception on the next drive. That would give way for a third Benedictine touchdown of the quarter before the halftime whistle.

Not much luck for the Wildcats in the second half

The Wildcats had to overcome a 17-point deficit being down 27-10 at the half.

However, the second half started off brutal, due to a fumble on the opening kickoff. The Wildcats stood their ground and forced the Ravens to give up the ball on downs.

On the next drive, Culver-Stockton cut the deficit to 10 following a 15-yard touchdown reception by Mateen Johnson.

Soon afterward, Benedictine would respond three plays later with a 63-yard touchdown run. That was the beginning of four touchdown drives of the third quarter, resulting in a 55-17 lead.

The Wildcats recovered a fumble in the Benedictine backfield early in the fourth quarter. Defensive end Aubre Sanders recovered it in the endzone to bring their point total to 24.

Unfortunately, that would be as far as the Wildcats got, as Benedictine made it far out of reach. Benedictine made a touchdown and field goal to finish with a 65-24 win over Culver-Stockton.

Orndorff finished with 329 yards passing and two scores. The Wildcats were limited to 63 yards rushing on 27 attempts. The Ravens totaled 594 yards of offense.

The Wildcats enter their bye week with a 4-2 record and will start Heart of America Athletic Conference divisional play on Oct. 16 at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Box score

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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