Green Knights Hold On for Key MWC North Win Over Carroll

From Sports Information Director, October 10, 2015 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College jumped out to a three-touchdown lead and held on for a 21-14 win over Carroll University in a key Midwest Conference North Division game at Schneider Stadium.

The Green Knights (5-0, 1-0 MWC North) led 21-0 early in the third quarter before holding off a last-ditch Carroll (2-3, 0-1) rally. The Pioneers last possession stalled at the St. Norbert 39-yard line, turning the ball over on downs with 1 minute 32 seconds remaining.

Following a scoreless first quarter, which included Carroll's opening drive ending at the St. Norbert 14-yard line on downs, the Green Knights scored on the first full possession of the second quarter. St. Norbert got a 30-yard pass from Jack Becker to Brett Olson to set up a first-and-goal at the Carroll 1. Three plays later Brandon Carter scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-0 lead with 5:43 left in the half.

Carroll went three-and-out on its next series, and St. Norbert marched 86 yards in 11 plays to score just before halftime. Becker's 4-yard pass to Zach Reeves with 42 seconds left in the half put St. Norbert ahead 14-0.

The Green Knights took the opening possession of the second half and boosted its lead to 21-0. A 29-yard pass from Becker to Olson put St. Norbert at the Carroll 1, and Brad Boockmeier scored on a run on the next play.

Carroll returned the ensuing kickoff to the Pioneers' 45-yard line. Carroll needed seven plays for its first score, with Kyle Burlingame hitting Kevin Jennings on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 7 minutes left in the quarter.

The Pioneers got back into the game midway through the fourth quarter, when Burlingame hit Jennings for an 80-yard touchdown with 7:11 remaining.

St. Norbert went three-and-out on its next series, and Carroll converted three first downs to get to the St. Norbert 41 with a first down. Two rushes sandwiched around an incomplete pass set up fourth-and-5 at the St. Norbert 39, but Burlingame's pass was dropped in a clearing, and St. Norbert ran out the clock to secure the win.

The Green Knights rushed 50 times in 70 offensive plays, and outgained the Pioneers 349-332. Elijah Fort had a team-high 61 rushing yards on 15 carries. Becker had 59 yards rushing, Carther 45 yards and Boockmeier 43 yards. Becker completed 10 of 19 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown.

Burlingame completed 12 of 29 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns for Carroll. Daniel Arden had 16 rushes for 76 yards. Connor O'Donoghue caught five passes for 70 yards, while Jennings had four receptions for 104 yards.

R.J. Callow had nine tackles to lead St. Norbert, while Tony Altmann added seven stops. Jacob Finegan had two quarterback sacks for the Green Knights.