The Aurora University Spartan football won 63-41 at home against Benedictine University on Saturday afternoon, celebrating Senior Day pregame and the celebration never ended. Senior quarterback Gavin Zimbelman recorded seven passing touchdowns and added another on the ground in the win while the offense scored on nine of their 10 possessions before the final possession that ended in kneel downs.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  #rv Aurora University 63, Benedictine University 41
LOCATION: Montgomery, Illinois
RECORDS: #rv Aurora University 6-2 overall and 6-0 in the NACC
Complete Box Score - View Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans would receive the opening kickoff and march 54 yards down on 9 plays. Zimbelman found Trey Madsen for a 4-yard touchdown.
- AU forced an Eagle punt on their first drive and stretch their early lead to 14-0 when Zimbelman found Cameron Moore for a 19-yard touchdown with 3:01 left in the first.
- The Eagles would cut the lead in half as time expired in the first quarter.
- The Spartans would score on their next three possessions with a 2-yard rush from Zimbelman, 46-yard reception from Moore, and a 14-yard reception from Madsen to take a 34-7 lead.
- Spartan defensive back Quintarius Davis intercepted a Benedictine pass for the Spartans lone takeaway of the game.
- Immediately after the Davis interception is when Zimbelman and Madsen connected for the second time on the day.
- The Eagles scored with 1:21 left in the half, but left too much time on the clock for the Spartans.
- The Spartans needed just 1:07 to extend their lead to 42-14 when Zimbelman connected with Madsen from 33 yards out with six seconds remaining in the half.
- AU led in commanding style, 42-14 going to halftime.
- To begin the second half the teams would trade touchdowns with AU's touchdown coming on an 11-yard reception from Colton Jewell to mak the score 49-21.
- The Eagles scored 14 unanswered late in the third and to start the fourth to cut the AU lead to 49-35.
- The only AU non-scoring drive of the day came in the BU scoring run with a fumble at the BU five yard line.
- With BU attempting an on-side kick that the Spartans recovered, the Spartan offense got back on track.
- 12 plays and 61 yards spanning 5:25 was capped off with Zimbelman hitting Madsen for the fourth touchdown between the pair. With 7:38 left in the game, AU led 56-35.
- The defense forced a turnover on downs from BU and on the first play, Jhequay Chretin ran 31-yard into the endzone.
- With 5:38 to play, AU was in complete control 63-35
- The Eagles would find the end zone one more time but was to little to late.
- The Spartans were victorious on Senior Day 63-41.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Rushing:
 - Carries: Tyran Bailey (20)
 - Yards: Tyran Bailey (94)
 - Touchdowns: Gavin Zimbelman and Jhequary Chretin (1)
Passing:
- Gavin Zimbelman (31-43 for 432 yards and seven touchdowns)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Cameron Moore (11) and Trey Madsen (9)
 - Yards: Cameron Moore (161) and Trey Madsen (137)
- Touchdowns: Trey Madsen (4) and Cameron Moore (2)
Defense:
- Tackles: Marcellus Romious (7) and Robbie Peterson (6)
- Sacks: Isaiah Conteh (1)
- Interceptions: Quintarius Davis (1)

UP NEXT:
Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, November 6 when they travel to Plymouth, Wisconsin to take on Lakeland University. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.