WATERBURY, Conn. (October 29, 2022) -- Senior Christian Keeling (Taunton, Mass.) rushed for a game-high 84 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman Alex Benitez (Belle Meade, N.J.) added 81 yards and another score, as the rushing game led the way on the offensive side of the ball for the Franklin Pierce University football team on Saturday, in a 42-19, non-conference victory on the road at Post. Senior quarterback Bryce Macina (Syracuse, N.Y.) added 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air for good measure, while the defense chalked up seven interceptions to hold the Eagles at bay.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 2-7, while Post falls to 0-8.

Post opened the scoring on the game's very first drive, with a 27-yard touchdown pass from graduate student Broghean McGovern to freshman Robert Oliverio. The Ravens responded though, and took control of the game over the remainder of the first half, with touchdowns on three of their first five drives of the game, plus a defensive touchdown, to boot.

In the first quarter, an interception set up a quick, two-play, 6-yard scoring drive, with Benitez rushing into the end zone from 6 yards out. Another quick, three-play drive off an interception followed, but this one covered 52 yards, and Keeling ran it in from 14 yards out with just 18 seconds to play in the opening period, to give Franklin Pierce a lead it would never relinquish.

In the second quarter, Post turned the ball over on downs at its own 48-yard line, and the Ravens needed only five plays to find the end zone, on a 25-yard pass from Macina to junior Chris Howard (Lakeland, Fla.). Franklin Pierce pushed the lead out to 28-7 on the very next play from scrimmage, as McGovern was intercepted by sophomore Jaden Clark (West Warwick, R.I.), who took it 27 yards the other way for the Ravens' second defensive touchdown in as many weeks.

Post cut the gap to 28-13 before halftime, courtesy of an 11-yard touchdown pass from McGovern to freshman Joshua Tracey. On the other side of halftime, McGovern notched his third and final touchdown pass of the day, as he connected with sophomore Christian Collin from 32 yards out to trim the deficit to 28-19.

Franklin Pierce answered the call with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Macina to freshman Austyn Howe (Newington, Conn.), to push the lead back out to 35-19. Keeling provided the dagger, with a 31-yard scoring rush with only 70 seconds to play, which created the 42-19 final.

For the Ravens, Macina went 11-for-17 through the air for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns, against one interception. Keeling and Benitez carried the load on the ground, with the former going for 84 yards on 13 rushes (6.5 yards per rush) and two scores, while the latter was good for 81 yards on 19 attempts (4.3 yards per rush) and another touchdown. Macina's favorite target was Howe, who finished with four catches for 76 yards and the one touchdown. Defensively, Franklin Pierce piled up seven interceptions on the afternoon, including a pair for Clark. Junior Chris Yeboah (Worcester, Mass.) had five solo tackles, including a sack.

For Post, McGovern was 15-for-41 for 240 yards and three touchdowns, but was also threw the aforementioned septet of interceptions. His most-frequent target was Collin, who hauled in a game-best six receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles managed just 34 rushing yards in the contest. Defensively, freshman Ivory Parker led the way with 10 tackles (nine solo), including one sack and two tackles for loss.

The Ravens will close out their season on Saturday, Nov. 5, with a Northeast-10 Conference contest at New Haven. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in West Haven, Conn.