Box Scores
Knox College took advantage of several Grinnell College mistakes, which helped lead to the Prairie Fire's first win of the season Saturday at the Knosher Bowl.
The Pioneers (4-2, 3-2) threw six interceptions, four by starting quarterback Mike Bogard - who was shaken up in the fourth quarter - and two by Bogard's replacement Mike McCabe. Grinnell also lost two fumbles in the 31-21 Midwest Conference victory by the Prairie Fire.
On the receiving end of three interceptions for Knox was senior linebacker Kevin Beck (Chicago, Illinois), which tied a school record. The six interceptions in the game for Knox also tied a school record. The last time it happened was in 1973 against Illinois College.
First-year quarterback Drew Diaz (Niles, Illinois) completed 11-of-32 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions. One of his TD passes was an 80-yard score to sophomore Jonas Mack (Algonquin, Illinois), who had the biggest game of his college career with 3 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Junior Clarke Cuthbert (Oak Park, Illinois), the Fire's leading receiver this season, added 2 catches for 53 yards. The game-clincher occurred when he hauled in a 38-yard scoring pass from Diaz with 8:12 to play in the game for Knox College's final points after a successful PAT.
Senior Dan Kizior (Manteno, Illinois) led the Prairie Fire ground game with 17 carries for 69 yards. He scored Knox College's first touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run with 8:19 in the first quarter after Grinnell previously got on the board when Kelsey Davis scored on a 17-yard reception from Bogard at the 13:04 mark of the opening stanza.
Junior Luke Northam (Colorado Springs, Colorado) contributed 14 carries for 55 yards and junior Wolf Vos (Amsterdam) found the end zone for the first time this season on a 1-yard run with :07 left in the first half. Vos finished the afternoon with 8 carries for 21 yards.
Knox (1-5, 1-4) had its best offensive output of the season: 151 yards on the ground and 218 through the air for 369 yards. The Pioneers had 461 yards, mostly through the air. Bogard was 27-of-46 for 354 yards and two touchdowns - one to Davis and the other to Robert Seer from 28 yards out. Davis had 8 catches for 108 yards and Logan Granera caught 7 passes for 100 yards.
The Pioneers were without their leading rusher TJ Schaid, who was injured. Grinnell had just 59 yards on the ground on 21 attempts.
Next up for the Prairie Fire is a trip to Jacksonville, Illinois next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Illinois College. The Blueboys (3-3, 3-2) surprised St. Norbert College (3-3, 3-2) Saturday in a 26-25 thriller in DePere, Wisconsin.
