Benedictine Ravens move to NAIA football quarterfinals while MNU Pioneers bow out

The Ravens of Benedictine are moving on in the championship tournament for NAIA football. The Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene won’t be joining them.

Here’s a recap of Saturday postseason action involving teams from the region around Kansas City. Winners Saturday advance to the national quarterfinal round:

Benedictine 42, Texas Wesleyan 33: The No. 9-seeded Ravens had a first-round bye and played their opening game, in the tourney’s second round, against No. 8 seed Texas Wesleyan (10-1) on Saturday.

Benedictine (10-2) fell behind 14-0 but outscored the Rams 28-9 after halftime. And by game’s end, the Ravens had rolled up 521 yards of offense.

QB Jackson Dooley was 15 of 30 for 344 yards and 3 TDs while also throwing 2 picks. Jacob Gathright hauled in 6 catches for 171 yards and 2 TDs, while JaShawn Todd caught 3 balls for 109 yards and a score.

On the ground, Benedictine’s Dalton Robinson carried it 19 times for 102 yards and a pair of TDs.

The Ravens next play No. 3 seed Indiana Wesleyan (10-1) in the quarterfinals.

Morningside (Iowa) 35, MidAmerica Nazarene 0: The 12th-seeded Pioneers ran into a well-oiled machine in No. 6-seeded Morningside (11-1). MNU (9-2) had enjoyed a first-round bye, so this was the Pioneers’ opener ... and it didn’t go as they had hoped.

The Mustangs held a 14-0 lead at halftime and only continued to push post-intermission. MNU QB Adrian Parsons was 20 of 39 for 183 yards and 2 interceptions. Myles Hymes caught the bulk of his passes — 10 receptions for 102 yards — but the Pioneers were a miserable 1 for 15 on third downs Saturday.

Max Hough finished with 26 carries for 149 yards and 3 TDs for Morningside.