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Thursday, November 22, 1956
Northeastern State Redmen - Tahlequah, Oklahoma
vs. St. Benedict's Ravens - Atchison, Kansas
Northeastern State out gained St. Benedict's by over 150 yards but the Ravens defense came up big when it mattered most.
Four times Northeastern State had the ball inside the St. Benedict's five yard line, twice in the last three minutes of the game. But the Ravens kept them out of the end zone for what would have been the winning score.
St. Benedict's scored first after Dan Schmidt recovered a fumble at his own 30 yard line. Quarterback, Mark Flynn gave the ball to backs Jerry Purslow, Jerry Mohlman and Fred Finder who scored on fourth down at the Northeastern State one to end a 70 yard drive.
The Raven defense forced Northeastern State fumbles twice at their own three in the second quarter. Then as time was running out in the first half stopped the Redmen again after a shanked punt gave Northeastern a first down at the St. Benedict's 19.
The half ended with the Kansans up 7-0 and they had stopped three great Northeastern scoring chances.
The Redmen tied it quickly in the third quarter on a twenty yard run by future Denver Bronco back, Dan Smith. A forty yard pass from Flynn to Finder on the ensuing possession gave the lead right back to St. Benedict's. Then Smith pulled the Redmen to within one on a spectacular 68 yard run. But the point after kick was low and wide.
The Redmen marched 54 yards in the fourth quarter but the Raven defense stopped Smith for a yard loss on fourth down at their own four. As they were trying to get away from their own goal line, Raven quarterback Flynn, fumbled it away to give Northeastern another chance only nine yards away.
Two runs by Smith got the ball to the five before the Raven defense came up big again. It stopped Dick Findley for a three yard loss then on fourth down smothered a halfback pass attempt by Smith.
With 56 seconds remaining the offense ran out the clock and let a valiant Raven defense enjoy a hard earned bowl victory.
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