St. Norbert Trims Beloit

From Sports Information Director, November 1, 2008 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

BELOIT - St. Norbert College defeated Beloit College 42-21 in a Midwest Conference contest at Strong Stadium.

The Green Knights led 35-14 at halftime and cruised to victory in the second half. St. Norbert enters next weekend's season finale against Illinois College at 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the MWC. Beloit fell to 4-5, 3-5.

St. Norbert scored early on Dan Sjoquist's 51-yard punt return for a touchdown just 2:41 into the game. Beloit answered after a Buccaneer punt was touched by a St. Norbert player and Beloit recovered on the St. Norbert 36. Beloit needed just three plays to tie the score on a 24-yard run by Terence Steward.

The Green Knights would only need two plays to regain the lead, one they would not relinquish. Bryan Stoppenbach hit A.J. Phillips up the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown with 7:27 left in the first quarter.

St. Norbert would score the first two touchdowns of the second quarter, with Stoppenbach finding Brian Peterson on an underneath route for a 20-yard touchdown. Beloit fumbled the ensuing kickoff with St. Norbert recovering at the Beloit 25. Dane Sims scored on a 1-yard touchdown run five plays later for a 28-7 lead.

Beloit would score on the next series on a 30-yard touchdown run by Steward with 6:44 left before halftime. St. Norbert would march 64 yards in 12 plays to score 44 seconds left before halftime on a 5-yard run by Sims.

The Green Knights scored for the last time on the first series of the second half, with Sims scoring on a 1-yard run. Beloit would score with 1:22 left in the game, capping off a 92-yard drive with a 13-yard Chris Welborn touchdown run.

St. Norbert totaled 341 yards of total offense in 59 plays, rushing for 129 and passing for 212. Sims finished with 85 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns. Stoppenbach completed 11 of 19 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Sjoquist finished with 123 all-purpose yards.

Steward led Beloit with 94 yards rushing, scoring two touchdowns on 20 carries. Three Beloit quarterbacks combined to completed 8 of 26 passes for 93 yards. The Buccaneers offense had 259 total yards.