Box Score The Aurora University Spartan football team traveled to Benedictine University for the 2013 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener and fell to the Eagles 33-23.

After holding the Eagles on the opening drive of the game, the Spartans went three and out bringing on the punt unit. AU punter Ryan Mizgate's punt was blocked and recovered by BU at the Spartan two-yard line.

The Spartan defense stopped the BU rush for no gain on first down and a short gain on second down. But the Eagles converted on third down for a 7-0 lead.

After the teams traded possessions, the Spartan defense forced a BU turnover with  Damar Reed forcing a fumble that was recovered by Christian Rago at the BU 36 yard line.

The AU drive would eventually stall with senior kicker Fernando Albarran converting a 29-yard field goal.

On the ensuing kickoff, Benedictine's return man took the kick back 100 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 BU lead.

On the first-play of the next possession for the Spartans, quarterback Jace Koerner was intercepted, giving the Eagles possession at the BU 39 yard line.

After a quarter change, the Eagles finished the drive with a touchdown but the extra point was
The momentum, clearly in the home teams hands, continued as the Spartans went three and out on the next possession giving the ball back to BU.

The Eagle offense marched down the field but this time the AU defense came up with an important stand at the three-yard line, stopping the Eagle scoring chance.

With a little momentum back on their side, the AU offense marched 97 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 14 yard Brandon Evans touchdown run and a 20-10 BU lead now. That would be the score as the teams went into halftime.

On the first possession of the second half, the Spartans took the kick and the offense marched 88 yards in five plays with Koerner capping off the drive with a 30 yard run. After the Albarran extra point, the Spartans trailed 20-17.

The AU defense seemed to force a BU punt on the ensuing Eagle possession and with the BU punter on the field, he dropped the snap and rook off running, needing 14 yards for a firstdown. As he approached the 33-yard line, Spartan Michael Bajc forced a fumble that went out of bounds at the 36-yard line. By rule the ball goes back to the location of the fumble which should have given the Spartans a first-down at the 33-yard line. But a bad spot by the referee crew gave the Eagles a first down at the 36 yard line. Three plays later, the Eagles connected on a 53-yard touchdown strike and recaptured the games momentum with a 26-17 lead.

The teams traded punts on the next seven possessions, taking the game well into the fourth quarter. Benedictine extended their lead to 33-17 with 9:54 left in the fourth quarter on a five play, 55-yard drive.

With 3:20 left in the game, the Spartans would score again on a Koerner 11 yard run but the two-point conversion and on-side kick both were not successful for the Spartans.

As the final horn sounded, AU lost 33-23. The Spartans are now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the NACC. Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, October 19 when they travel to Wisconsin Lutheran College. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wis.