CU football unable to slow down ranked Ravens

ATCHISON, Kan. – The Clarke University Pride football team (0-4, 0-0 North) fell 68-0 to the No. 17-ranked Benedictine College Ravens on Saturday afternoon inside Larry Wicox Stadium. 

The Ravens (2-2, 0-0) opened the game with an eight-play, 88-yard scoring drive to take the early 7-0 lead. After going three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Clarke was forced to punt and saw Benedictine's Tre Adger return the ball to the Clarke 15-yard line.

Two plays later, sophomore linebacker Adrian Tamayo (SO/Oak Hills, Calif.) fell on a Raven fumble to stop Benedictine from punching in their second score of the game. An interception by Kenyon Williams (SO/San Diego, Calif.) three plays later set up the Ravens with first and 10 on the Clarke 28-yard line. Raven QB Garrett Kettle rushed for 13 yards and completed a pass down to the Pride four-yard line before Rayshon Mills capped off the drive with a touchdown rush.

After that, the Ravens continued to pour on the points by scoring another five touchdowns in the first half to lead 47-0 heading into halftime.

Benedictine put together scoring drives of eight-plays, 75 yards and 11-plays, 80 yards to extend the lead to 61-0 through three quarters. The Pride were able to hold the Ravens to seven in the fourth quarter, ending the game with a final score of 68-0.

Williams finished the day 11-of-26 for 100 yards and two interceptions, while Garrett Egan (JR/Merced, Calif.) and Sean Ceasar (SO/Sulphur, La.) combined for 34 carries and 103 yards on the ground. Tamayo led the Pride with four tackles, followed by Bryan Valdes (FR/Florida City, Fla.), Michael Nacnac (SR/Waipahu, Hawaii) and Steven Thomas (SO/Montgomery, Ala.) with three apiece. Nacnac led the team with one sack, with Logan Otting (FR/Cascade, Iowa) and Tamyo each pitching in half a sack.

Benedictine racked up 539 total yards of offense on 72 plays. Garrett Kettle led the Ravens by completing 16-of-23 passes for 171 yards and a score. Kettle also got it done on the ground by rushing for 56 yards and three touchdowns. Jonah Roberts (1), Rayshon Mills (1), Drake Pray (1) and Damon Wigland (2) all scored rushing touchdowns, giving the Ravens 10 total touchdowns on the day.

The Pride will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 25, when it hosts Baker University for a homecoming showdown. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.