The Aurora University Spartan football team dominated archrival Benedictine University on Saturday afternoon, going to the air attack to dismantle the Eagles 63-7.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 63, Benedictine University 7
LOCATION: Lisle, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 3-0 overall and 1-0 NACC
GAME TIME: 2:46


- AU won the toss and deferred to the second-half and the decision paid off immediately as Marcellus Romious intercepted a pass on the second play of the game to set up the offense at the BU 40.
- The offense wasted no time scoring on the first-play with Ian Luyando hitting James Mautino on a 40-yard catch and run for a 7-0 lead.
- After the defense forced a punt the offense struck again on an eight play 59-yard drive.
- Luyando hit Trey Madsen from two-yards out and a 14-0 Spartan lead.
- The defense forced a second of five turnovers created on the afternoon on the next BU drive. Otis Watts with a strip sack that Joel Coston recovered.
- The offense turned the ball over on downs but after the defense again forced a BU punt the Spartans struck again late in the first quarter.
- This eight play drive went 70-yards with Luyando and Madsen connecting once again, this time from 26-yards and AU led 21-0 going to the second.
- On the first AU possession of the second, a penalty on a fourth down touchdown nullified the score and the Spartans punted.
- When the defense set up the offense at the BU 38, following a punt, Mautino and the offense needed two plays to score. An 18-yard run was followed by a 20-yard pitch and catch from Luyando to Mautino and a 28-0 lead.
- AU led 28-0 going to halftime in Lisle.
- One play into the third quarter the Spartans put up more points. Luyando hit a streaking Ty Pruett and 62-yards later he was dancing in the Eagle endzone with a 35-0 lead.
- BU would score their one and only touchdown of the game on their first possession of the second-half.
- The Spartans were just getting started though, as Luyando hit Madsen for a 62-yard touchdown strike and a 42-7 lead.
- The AU defense would get in on the scoring fun when Robbie Peterson stepped in front of an Eagle pass and sprinted 46-yards for a 49-7 AU lead.
- A BU fumble which Jaylen Jordan pounced on set up the offense yet again.
- Four Jon Alstott carries for 22-yards resulted in seven more AU points and late in the third, AU led 56-7.
- The defense created two more turnovers in the fourth quarter with fumble recoveries by Eddie Ortiz and Malik Anderson.
- Zack Russell carried the rock in the fourth quarter and picked up a touchdown run for the final score of 63-7.


Rushing:
 - Carries: Zack Russell (10) and Jon Alstott (9)
 - Yards: Jon Alstott (63)
- Touchdowns: Jon Alstott and Zack Russell (1)
Passing:
-  Ian Luyando (18-24-0 for 388 yards and six touchdowns)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Trey Madsen (5)
 - Yards: Trey Madsen (109), James Mautino (85) and Michael Boland (82)
 - Touchdowns: Trey Madsen (3), James Mautino (2) and Ty Pruett (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: Andrew Nordland (9) and Ben Slatcoff (7)
- Sacks: Otis Watts, Steven Tinsley and Joel Coston (1.0)
- Interceptions: Marcellus Romious and Robbie Peterson (1)
- Touchdown: Robbie Peterson (1)
- Forced Fumble: Otis Watts, Joel Coston, Eddie Ortiz and Deuce Moore (1)
- Fumble Recovery: Jaylen Jordan, Joel Coston and Malik Anderson (1)
 

Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, September 30 when they host Eureka College on Homecoming 2023. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m. on Vago Field in Aurora, Illinois.