The Aurora University Spartan football team wraps up the home portion of their 2019 schedule at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, November 2 when they host Benedictine University. The match-up features the last two remaining unbeaten teams in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings. Prior to the game, AU will recognize the senior class on Senior Day.

Watch the game action - 
- The game can be seen live using live stats or live video

All-Time Series - AU vs. Benedictine
- This is the 42nd meeting all-time for Aurora and Benedictine on the gridiron. 
- Aurora is 24-17 all-time against the Eagles.
- AU defeated BenU 41-24 last season in Lisle.

About the Aurora University Spartans –
- AU is 6-1 overall on the season and 4-0 in the NACC.
- The Spartans have out-scored their first three NACC opponents 205 to 83.
- 2019 marks the 86th season of AU Spartan football.
- The Spartan offense is averaging 520.0 yards per game with 337.4 through the air and 182.6 yards on the ground.
- AU is out-scoring their opponents by an average of 47.9 to 25.6.
- Defensively, AU is allowing 351.3 yards per game.

Spartan Key Performers - 
- Receiver Jacolby Maxwell has 44 catches for 724 yards and 14 touchdowns.
- Quarterback Gavin Zimbelman has passed for 2,362 yards on 177-of-277 passing, 40 touchdowns against six interceptions.
- Tight End Colton Jewell has 32 catches for 515 yards and nine touchdowns.
- Running back Tyran Bailey is averaging 6.8 yards per carry and 99.8 yards per game.
- Seven ball carriers for AU are averaging 182.6 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry on the ground.
- 12 Spartans have scored points on the season, led by Jacolby Maxwell with 86 points scored.
- Casey Dycus is the leader on defense with 52 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and two pass break-ups.
- Frankie Gordey has 41 tackles with 1/2 sack, one interception and one fumble recovery.
- Blake Martz has a team co-leading six sacks with a fumble recovery and 31 tackles..
- Robert Stark co-leads AU with six sacks while having a team high 10 tackles for loss.
- Sean Reyna leads AU with three interceptions.

Spartans Receive Weekly Honors - 
- Tight End Colton Jewell was been selected by D3football.com to the Team of the Week for the second time this season. This selection came following his performance in AU's 56-14 victory over Rockford University on Saturday, October 26. In the win, Jewell caught seven balls for 123 yards and a touchdown with a long of 60 yards. He also helped the AU run game rush for 5.2 yards per rush and 199 yards total in the game. On the season, Jewell has 32 catches for 5`5 yards and nine touchdowns. He is averaging 85.8 yards per game and 16.1 yards per catch. In the Division III statistical rankings, Jewell is 24th in receiving touchdowns, 45th in scoring, 58th in total touchdowns, 71st in total points scored, 79th in receiving yards per game and 99th in receptions per game.

- Quarterback Gavin Zimbelman was recognized by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference as the NACC Offensive Player of the Week. In AU's 56-14 victory over Rockford University. In AU's victory, Zimbelman completed 23 of 34 passes for 327 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran for 61 yards on seven carries, averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Throwing for a NACC single-game-record seven scores for the fourth time this season, Zimbelman broke the NACC single-season mark for touchdown passes against the Regents. He now has 40, surpassing the previous mark of 34 set by Lakeland's Michael Whitley in 2015. Zimbelman finished the day breaking AU single-season marks for passing yards (2,362) and completions (177) and career marks for passing yards (5,235), attempts (689), completions (417) and touchdown passes (59). On the season, Zimbelman has gone 177-of-277 passing for 2,362 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 257 yards and two touchdowns. He is currently ranked in the top 8 in Division III in seven statistical categories, leading the country in total offense (374.1), passing touchdowns (40), points responsible for (254) and points responsible for per game (36.3) while ranking third in passing yards per game (337.4) and passing yards overall (2,362).

Spartans in the National Statistical Rankings: AU ranks sixth among Division III programs in passing offense (339.2 per game), sixth in total offense (519.0 yards per game) and 18th in passing efficiency (174.42) while ranking 11th in scoring offense (46.5 points per game), fourth in first downs offense (164) and 20th in third down conversion percentage (.500 - 42 of 84).

Individually, Gavin Zimbelman is first nationally in passing touchdowns (40), points responsible for (254), points responsible for per game (36.3), total offense (374.1 per game), third in passing yards (2,362) passing yards per game (337.4), eighth in completions per game (25.29) and 16th in passing efficiency (178.8). 

Jacolby Maxwell is third in receiving touchdowns (14), eighth in total touchdowns (14), total points scored (84) and scoring (12.3 per game), 28th in receiving yards per game (103.4) and 30th in receiving yards (724). 

Colton Jewell is 24th in receiving touchdowns (9) and 45th in scoring per game (9.0).

Tyran Bailey is ninth in rushing yards per carry (6.81) and 38th in rushing yards per game (99.8). 

Casey Dycus is 21st in fumble recoveries with two.

Keion Adams is fifth in blocked kicks with three.

About the Benedictine Eagles–
- BenU comes into this contest with a 5-2 overall record and 4-0 in the NACC.
- The Eagles come in off a 17-14 win over Eureka College.
- The BenU offense is averaging 327.8 yards per game, 165.3 in the air and 162.5 on the ground.
- The Eagle defense is allowing 361.5 yards per game, 200.8 in the air and 160.7 on the ground. The Eagles have allowed 19.4 points per game..

Eagles to Watch -
- Quarterback Tyler Jarnagin is averaging 165.3 yards passing per game with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
- Joshua Williams is the leading Benedictine rusher with 5.9 yards per carry, 93.0 yards per game and five touchdowns..
- Alex Lopez is the leading receiver, averaging 45.8 yards per game with five touchdowns and 11.5 yards per catch.
- Scottie Bobeck is the leading BenU tackler with 60 tackles and one interception.

Up Next for the Spartans - 
- The Spartans head to Wisconsin next weekend and take on Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday, November 9 with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.