ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team fell 70-27 at home on Saturday afternoon to the Benedictine University Eagles. Benedictine jumped out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back. The Eagles led 42-7 at the half and by as many as 42 points in the second half en route to the victory. Rockford was able to amass a healthy 403 yards of total offense; however, unfortunately, the Eagles racked up 654 yards, including 306 of them on the ground. One highlight of the game for the Regents was
Jaelen Ray's continued assault on the RU record book. Ray tossed 3 touchdowns in the game, giving him a school record 56 career passing touchdowns. He is now the school's career leader in touchdown passes (56), passing attempts (889), completions (578), passing yards (6,264), completion percentage (65%) and total offense (6,712).
- The Eagles scored the first four touchdowns of the game and held a 28-0 lead with 9:19 left in the first half.
- Rockford was finally able to answer Benedictine's fourth score of the day with a touchdown of its own.
- The Regents needed just five plays to cover 75 yards, including a a 64-yard touchdown pass from Jaelen Ray to Joey Owens. That touchdown pass was Ray's 54th of his career and set a new school record. Kaden Finnestad tacked on the point after to make it a 28-7 game.
- Unfortunately, Benedictine scored on its final two possessions of the half, taking a 42-7 lead into the break.
- The Eagles would then make it 49-7 with a touchdown on their second drive of the third quarter.
- Rockford answered right back with a touchdown of its own on the ensuing possession. Jaelen Ray found Emani Johnson for a 58-yard completion to set up Rockford with a first and goal at the seven. The next play could have been a disaster as Ray was hit and fumbled the ball attempting to run a quarterback option, but Kyle Thompson was johnny-on-the-spot, picking up the loose ball and running 14 yards to the corner of the end zone for the score. The point after was good, making it a 49-14 game.
- Benedictine added one more touchdown in the third to take a 56-14 lead heading into the fourth.
- Rockford found the end zone first in the final quarter, after taking advantage of a Garrick McGregor interception. The Regents went 40 yards on 5 plays, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jaelen Ray to Emani Johnson. Kaden Finnestad's extra point split the uprights to make it 56-21.
- Benedictine answered with touchdowns on its next two possessions, including Evan Wydajewski's eighth passing touchdown of the game, to extend the lead to 70-21.
- Rockford would score one final time on the very last play of the game. The Regents used a 9-play, 48-yard drive, which was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jaelen Ray to Joey Owens as time expired. Unfortunately, it was not enough, as the Regents fell 70-27.
- Jaelen Ray went 36-48 for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 6 times for 42 yards.
- Kyle Thompson carried the ball 4 times for 21 yards and a touchdown.
- Joey Owens caught 13 passes for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Emani Johnson had 5 receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.
- Timothy Bearden caught 6 passes for 59 yards.
- Garrick McGregor had a game-high 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, an interception and 3 pass breakups. McGregor is now tied for third in school history with 9 career interceptions.
- Curtis Hosea had 6 tackles and an interception.
- Mykal Brown recorded 6 tackles and 3 pass breakups.
