STORM LAKE, Iowa (Nov. 11, 2023) - The Buena Vista football team took the field for the final time this season on Saturday, and the Beavers were aided by four field goals from freshman Ben Crock, as well as over 220 yards rushing by the offense, to help hold off visiting Nebraska Wesleyan, 25-20.

After the Prairie Wolves had a field goal attempt blocked on their first possession, the Beavers drove down the field, using over 7:00 before Crock converted a 30-yard kick into a stiff southerly wind to give BVU a 3-0 lead with 1:39 left in the opening quarter. 

NWU struck back with an 11-play drive that used over six minutes, and took a 6-3 lead on an 18-yard touchdown pass. The point-after-attempt was no good.

The two teams then traded punts on each of their next two drives before Crock tied things up at 6-6 with 1:31 remaining by drilling a 42-yard kick. Nebraska Wesleyan was forced to punt the ball back to BVU with under a 30 seconds left in the opening half. Junior quarterback Zach Herrera completed a pair of pass attempts, including a 25-yarder to Isaia Morones as time expired in the period.

The Beavers defense made it tough on NWU for most of the game, and they came out and forced a three-and-out on the first drive of the second half. That made the Prairie Wolves have to punt into the wind deep in their own territory, and BVU was able to begin its first drive of the half at the Prairie Wolves 44-yard line. It stalled at the 28, but Crock capitalized with a 45-yard field goal, giving him the longest made field goal in the A-R-C this season.

BVU came through with another big blocked kick, this time on a punt attempt, and would return it down to the Prairie Wolves 12-yard line. The offense couldn't capitalize despite the strong field position, but Crock again came through, making his final field goal from 28 yards out to extend the Beaver lead to 12-6 with 5:49 left in the third quarter.

It was another punt from Nebraska Wesleyan on the next drive, and the Beavers turned that into points yet again. This time, it was Herrera finding Gavin Honkomp over the middle of the end-zone from seven yards out. The two-point attempt failed, and BVU held an 18-6 lead with just 38 seconds remaining.

After the two teams traded punts early in the fourth quarter, the Beavers tacked on their final score when senior running back Keaton Huebner found a burst through the line and took it 71 yards to the house. Crock PAT would make it 25-6 midway through the final quarter.

The Prairie Wolves made a bit of a run down the stretch, getting touchdown passes of 11 and 12 yards to pull within 25-20. They had one final chance with under 15 seconds left when they took over at their own 37-yard line. A hail mary attempt on the final play was intercepted by senior Trey Ortman at the five yard-line.

BVU finished the game with a season-high 227 yards rushing and 301 yards overall. The defense held the Prairie Wolves to only 256 yards of offense with 183 of it coming through the air.

Heubner led the ground attack with a season-high 121 yards on 11 carries with junior Eman Alaniz adding 84 yards on 24 attempts. 

Herrera completed 4-of-14 attempts for 59 yards and the one touchdown.

Defensively, Alonzo Davis turned in a career-high 11 tackles to lead the Beavers with Ortman adding seven.

Carter Terry passed for 183 yards and three touchdowns to lead Nebraska Wesleyan. Victor Guzman had three catches for 69 yards. Trystin Myers with 40 yards on three receptions, including a pair of touchdowns. The Prairie Wolves end their year at 4-6 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

Buena Vista ends its season at 2-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play.