Box Score

Waukesha, WI – The Prairie Fire got off to a slow start against Carroll University and couldn't come all the way back in a 24-14 Midwest Conference setback on Saturday.

The Pioneers (2-1, 1-1 MWC) opened the scoring with a 24 yard rushing touchdown by Lamont Williams with 1:58 in the first quarter.   The kick for the extra point failed and the Carroll lead remained 6-0.

The Pioneers went to their air for their second touchdown, a 34 yard pass from Matt Sklander to Cody DiGiovanni, at the 6:19 mark of the second quarter.  A two-point conversion run gave the hosts a 14-0 lead.

The Pioneers added a 22 yard field goal that was set up by a nine play, 73 yard drive with 14 seconds left in the first half to go up 17-0.

Knox cut the Carroll lead to 17-7 on a 6 yard touchdown run by senior Derek Mortensen (Crystal Lake, IL, Crystal Lake South) with 8:20 remaining in the third quarter.  The Pioneers answered with a three play drive that ended with another Williams rushing touchdown, his second score from 67 yards, with six seconds to play in the quarter for a 24-7 advantage.

Mortensen scored again for the Prairie Fire (0-3, 0-2 MWC), this time on an 18 yard pass from sophomore quarterback Luke Oosterbaan (Palos Heights, IL, Marist), to pull within 24-14 with 3:46 in the game.  The touchdown reception was the first of Mortensen's career.

Knox got the ball back on its own 47 yard line following a successful on-side kick by senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South).  Oosterbaan completed a 6 yard pass to senior Drew Diaz (Niles, IL, Niles Notre Dame) on third down to set up a fourth-and-four at the Pioneer 47 yard line.  Oosterbaan's fourth down pass intended for sophomore Pat Ford (Chicago, IL, Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy) fell incomplete.

The Pioneers took possession of the football ran the final 2:52 off the clock to earn the win.

Carroll churned out 279 yards on the ground and finished with 403 total yards of offense.  The Prairie Fire had 305 total yards of offense, including 176 rushing the football.

Knox forced four turnovers by the Pioneers but also committed three.

Junior defensive back Will Ruzicka (St. Louis, MO, St. Mary's) intercepted his first pass of the season and the Prairie Fire recovered three fumbles.  Knox fumbled once while Carroll picked off Oosterbaan twice.

Mortensen had 35 carries for 133 yards rushing.  He tied the school record of eight consecutive games with 100 or more rushing yards originally set by Drew Sherman (1998-99). 

In addition, Mortensen set a new school record for career 100 yard rushing games with 12, passing Matt Hayden's 11 between 1994 and 1997.

Mortensen, who set or tied 10 football records last season, is also closing in on the record for career rushing yards.  He is second all-time with 3025 yards after passing Rick Truttmann – who ran for 3002 yards between 1972 and 1975. Mortensen needs 152 yards to tie all-time leader Kevin Megli, who played from 2003 to 2006 and had 3177 rushing yards.

Oosterbaan passed for 129 yards and ran for another 38.  Senior tight end Neal Moon (Kahoka, MO, Clark County) was the leading receiver with four receptions for 52 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Mitch Weissenhofer (Homewood, IL, Marian Catholic) had a big day with a game-high 16 tackles.  Weissenhofer made 12 solo tackles, which is tied for second all-time with 2012 Knox All-American linebacker Mike Hendrick.

The Prairie Fire return home to the Knosher Bowl to face Lake Forest College on September 28 at 1:00 p.m.
Lake Forest (3-0, 2-0 MWC) downed Grinnell College 15-7 at home on Saturday to remain unbeaten.

The Knox football game against the Foresters will be streamed live online at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/knox.portal#/

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