Green Knights Trim Beloit in Midwest Conference Opener

From Sports Information Director, September 10, 2011 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College picked up its 100th Midwest Conference victory during the 13-year tenure of head coach Jim Purtill, winning its 2011 Midwest Conference opener 30-14 over Beloit College at Kolstad Field at Schneider Stadium.

The Green Knights, who are now 100-8 in the MWC since Purtill came aboard in 1999, improved to 1-1 overall. Beloit, who has lost 12 of its last 13 games to St. Norbert, dropped to 0-2 and 0-1 in the MWC.

St. Norbert built a 10-0 after the first quarter. The Green Knights opened scoring on their first possession with a booming 42-yard field goal from Sam Mason which easily cleared the crossbar just 5 minutes 14 seconds into the game. Later in the quarter, Mike Fabrizio hit Brian Fliess on a 54-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 left in the period.

The Green Knights built their lead to 17-0 at halftime when Adam Nitsche scampered 43 yards when he took the direct snap on a fake punt with 3:39 to go before halftime.

St. Norbert took the first possession of the second half 60 yards in five plays for a 23-0 lead. Adam Gruett broke through on a third-and-5 and bolted for a 40-yard touchdown run. The Green Knights bulged to a 30-0 lead when Fabrizio found Logan Krueger in double coverage on a 32-yard strike.

Beloit got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns. Brian Maughn hit Derek Carrier on touchdowns of six and 14 yards in the first half of the final period of action.

The St. Norbert defense pounded Maughn most of the game, sacking him seven times for 58 yards in losses. Petr Bohacek had 3 1/2 sacks, Ben Nantell two sacks, Austin Prusha one sack and Dan Hansmann 1/2. The Buccaneers finished with minus-16 yards rushing, the fifth time under Purtill St. Norbert has held an opponent to a negative rushing total. Beloit was also zero for its first 11 third-down conversion attempts.

St. Norbert outgained Beloit 436-274. Gruett rushed 19 times for 151 yards and the Green Knights put up 257 yards rushing on 38 carries. Fabrizio completed 8 of 22 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

Maughn completed 26 of 40 passes for 290 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the Buccaneers. Carrier finished with 15 receptions for 180 yards and two scores.