CHICAGO — The Berry College football team defeated the University of Chicago, 24-17, in overtime on Saturday afternoon.
The win was the fifth straight for the Vikings, moving them to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the SAA. The loss dropped UChicago–ranked 24th in the current D3football.com poll–to 4-1 and 3-1.
Mitchell Blanchard kicked a 40-yard field goal with forty-nine seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17-17.
Berry got the ball first in overtime. Trey Ciresi (9 catches, 86 yards, 2 TDs) caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Dale Jackson to put BC ahead, 23-17. Blanchard’s PAT was good, moving the score to 24-17.
The Viking defense then limited Chicago to only one complete pass in their overtime drive, clinching the victory.
Early in the second quarter, Berry responded to a first quarter Chicago score. Austin Lowe (20 carries, 95 yards, TD) ran the ball four yards into the end zone for the first BC touchdown. Blanchard’s PAT tied the game up, 7-7.
Both UChicago and Berry scored again before halftime.
The Maroons’ touchdown came on a 62-yard pass to Sam Coleman from Burke Moser. Karl Kurzydlowski’s extra point was good, giving the home team the 14-7 lead.
The Vikings tied the game with less than four minutes to play before the half. Jackson (23-of-48 passing, 251 yards, 2 TDs) connected with Ciresi on an 8-yard pass into the end zone. Blanchard’s kick was good and tied the game at fourteen.
The third quarter produced no points for either team. Kurzdlowski and Blanchard each added on a field goal in the final regulation period to move the score to 17-17.
Chicago entered the game as one of the hottest offensive teams in the nation. Berry totaled 160 net yards rushing to UChicago’s 56 yards.
Maroon running back Chandler Carroll was held to 49 yards on 29 carries. Carroll ran for 245 yards last week vs. BSC, and rushed for a school recorded 331 yards against Centre in their previous game.
Mamadou Soumahoro led the defense with 12 tackles, six of which were solo stops.
Berry takes on Hendrix College next Saturday at Valhalla in a showdown of the conference’s lone unbeaten teams. Game time is 1 p.m.