Patience is paying off for the Graceland football team where the Yellowjackets are riding a three game winning streak heading into Saturday’s matchup against Benedictine of Kansas. Graceland is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Heart of America Conference after finishing 1-10 last year and 0-9 in league play.

Graceland coach Jeff Douglas says turnover margin is a major factor in their success. They lead the conference with a plus-seven margin as he says the defense has been playing well and the offense has been taking care of the ball.

Benedictine is ranked 24th in the latest NAIA poll and Douglas says they have to face ranked teams every year and Benedictine is one of them that is always tough.

Benedictine has the Heart of America’s top rushing attack. “We’ve got to try to stop the run…they can throw the ball a little bit, but their bread and butter is running the ball,” Douglas says.