Green Knights Tumble in MWC Opener at Beloit

From Sports Information Director, September 11, 2010 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

BELOIT - St. Norbert College dropped to 0-2 for the first time since 1997 following a last-second 34-31 Midwest Conference loss to Beloit College at Strong Stadium.

Mat Kahl's 22-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining was the difference as the Buccaneers (1-1, 1-0 MWC) beat the Green Knights (0-2, 0-1) for the first time since 1998. It was only St. Norbert's third loss in a Midwest Conference opener in 26 years.

St. Norbert rallied from a 24-21 deficit after three quarters when it went on a 13-play, 92-yard drive to take a 28-24 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rob Berger to Joe Green with 3 minutes 6 seconds left.

Beloit answered on its next series when it completed a 69-yard touchdown pass from Brian Maughn to Odin Grina on a third-and-14 play for a 31-28 lead with 2:07 left.

St. Norbert then advanced to the Beloit 12-yard line but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Roger Nault with 53 seconds left for a 31-31 tie. The Buccaneers then marched 65 yards in seven plays to set up the game-winning field goal.

Beloit had leads of 14-0 and 21-7 before St. Norbert cut it to 21-14 on a 36-yard touchdown from Berger to Logan Krueger. Kahl kicked a 37-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to give Beloit a 24-14 lead. The Green Knights pulled to within 24-21 on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Berger to Green with 8:11 left in the third quarter.

Beloit quarterback Brian Maughn, who suffered through a 4-for-23 outing on a raw, windy day at Minahan Stadium in a 44-0 loss last year, found the conditions much to his liking in 2010. Maughn completed 28 of 36 passes for 357 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

Three Beloit receivers had 100-yard days. Julian Ross had nine catches for 102 yards, Derek Carrier eight for 108 yards and Grina four for 108 yards as Beloit outgained St. Norbert 482-353. Beloit also led in the first-down department 26-23, but had 12 penalties for 115 yards.

John Weninger had 112 yards rushing on 26 carries, and Berger completed 14 of 21 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions to lead St. Norbert.