GALESBURG, Illinois—The Prairie Fire won their second straight home opener on a late run by sophomore quarterback
Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier)
.
Knox (1-1) led the entire game until early in the fourth quarter, when Carleton reeled off two scores to take a 20-10 lead, but the Prairie Fire battled back on two great drives in the final five minutes. McCaffrey capped off a six-play, 69-yard drive with a six-yard rushing touchdown to pull within four. First-year kicker
Jesus Flores (McAllen, TX, McAllen Memorial)
executed a perfect onside kick recovered by senior
Ilir Emini (Yorkville, IL, Yorkville)
to set up the final score. McCaffrey again used his legs, this time for a 25-yard rushing touchdown. Junior
Brock Gabel (Bourbonnais, IL, Bishop McNamara)
intercepted a last ditch effort from Carleton to seal the Prairie Fire victory.
Knox scored on the first drive of the game on a 21-yard pass from McCaffrey to Emini to take the early lead.
McCaffrey completed 25 of 42 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown. Senior
Mathew Hemmingsen (Galesburg, IL, Carl Sandburg College)
led all receivers with eight receptions and 97 yards. Emini finished with seven receptions for 93 yards.
First-year running back
Nick Edlund (St. Charles, IL, Aurora Christian)
led the ground game for the Prairie Fire with 75 yards, while McCaffrey finished with 55 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior
Sam Coffey (Winnetka, IL, New Trier)
recorded a team-high nine tackles for the Knox defense. Gabel and first-year
Logan Hollis (Toulon, IL, Stark County)
each added seven tackles. In addition to his interception, Gabel also blocked an extra point attempt in the first quarter after Carleton's first touchdown.
The Prairie Fire have a bye next weekend before returning to action on September 26 at Lawrence University.
