For the second time in the last three seasons, the Benedictine College football program has qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Championship Series.

Benedictine, who finished the regular season at 10-1 and as co-champions of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) finished at No. 8 in the final NAIA regular season NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Sunday and learned Sunday afternoon they will host No. 11 Tabor College in the NAIA FCS Opening Round on Nov. 23.

“We’re very pleased to have accomplished all of our goals so far this season,” said Raven head coach Larry Wilcox. “We’re really proud of our players for what they have done this season. To go from being selected as the fifth team in our conference in the preseason to finish as co-champs and ranked in the Top 10 are certainly great goals to have achieved.

“To host a home playoff game for our campus and for our family here at Benedictine College is a great thing.”

Tabor finished the regular season at 9-2 and finished second in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) behind NAIA FCS first-time qualifier Sterling (Kan.) College.

Benedictine and Tabor have face each other four times, but not since wrapping up a four-game series in 1977. The Ravens lead the series 4-0, which includes a pair of 56-0 wins over the Bluejays to conclude the series in 1976 and 1977.

“Tabor is a school that has made dramatic changes to their athletic department and specifically their football program since the last time we played each other,” Wilcox said. “They have a great coach in Mike Gardner. He has been able to bring credibility and great success to Tabor.

“They have a great running attack, a very aggressive defense and put a lot of emphasis on special teams.”

Benedictine will host the game at 1 p.m. Saturday on O’Malley Field at Larry Wilcox Stadium. More information on ticket sales will be released on Monday at  www.ravenathletics.com with information regarding advanced ticket sales starting on Tuesday afternoon.

The appearance in the NAIA FCS marks the 12th time in the modern era of Benedictine football, which started with the return of football to campus in 1973, in which the Ravens have qualified for the postseason. The host bid marks the first time since the 2001 season that the Ravens will open the FCS on campus.

In 2011, the Ravens qualified for the NAIA FCS and traveled to Kentucky to take on Georgetown (Ky.) College. Georgetown beat Benedictine, 21-7.

— BC Sports Information —