EUREKA, Illinois – A string of 19 unanswered points in the second half was too much for the Prairie Fire to overcome in a 32-21 season-opening loss at Eureka College in the fourth annual Lincoln Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

Knox tightened the screws on defense in the second quarter and held Eureka scoreless after falling behind 13-6.  First-year Jesus Flores (McAllen, TX, McAllen Memorial) kicked a 33-yard field goal with 11:14 left in the first half shave another three points off the deficit.

The Prairie Fire grabbed a 15-13 lead when sophomore quarterback Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) hit first-year Tallen McWilliams (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) with a 4-yard touchdown pass at the 6:00 mark of the third quarter.

Eureka (1-0) answered with a pair of field goals (25, 29 yds) to move back in front 19-15 early in the fourth quarter.

Knox (0-1) marched down the field on the ensuing drive, which started with McCaffrey completing a pass to senior Ilir Emini (Yorkville, IL, Yorkville) for 32 yards.  First-year running back Nick Edlund (St. Charles, IL, Aurora Christian) carried twice for 11 yards to keep the chains moving, and Emini hauled in a 16-yard pass from McCaffrey that set up a first down and goal.  But the drive ended when cornerback Ricky Martinez intercepted a pass for the Red Devils inside the 5-yard line with about 9:30 to play.

Needing a stop, the Knox defense responded with a three-and-out that forced Eureka to kick the football away from deep inside its own territory.  However, two big plays on special teams helped the Red Devils notch the victory and reclaim the Lincoln Trophy.

A 71-yard punt by Collin Aimone backed the Prairie Fire up to the 14-yard line with 7:31 remaining and the hosts clinging to a four-point lead.  The possession resulted in a punt by Knox.  Martinez returned the kick 58 yards the other way before fumbling at the 1.  Eureka recovered, and one play later punched the ball into the end zone for a 26-15 advantage with 6:17 left.

A 47-yard interception return for a touchdown closed out the scoring by the Red Devils.

The Prairie Fire added a 16-yard TD reception by junior Mathew Hemmingsen (Galesburg, IL, Carl Sandburg College) with a little over four minutes to go.

McCaffrey also had a 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that knotted the score, 6-6.  He led the Knox ground game with 77 yards while completing 17-of-32 passes for 221 yards (2 TD, 2 INT).

Edlund finished with 62 rushing yards.  Emini caught seven passes for 127 yards to pace all receivers, Hemmingsen had five receptions and 39 yards, and sophomore Martwain Holmes (Lansing, IL, Urban Prep Academy) made three catches for 37 yards.

The Prairie Fire closed out the afternoon with 364 yards.

Junior linebacker Brock Gabel (Bourbonnais, IL, Bishop McNamara) led the defense with 10 tackles.  Senior linebacker Hamad Alizada (Denver, CO, Martin Luther King) was next with eight.  Sophomore linebacker Cody Hipp (Crown Point, IN, Crown Point) who forced and recovered a fumble, added six tackles.  First-year defensive lineman Tyler Paul (Quincy, IL, Quincy Senior) also recorded six tackles (1 TFL), and sophomore defensive back Donnye Sommerville (Clayton, MO, Clayton) made five stops and picked off a pass.

The home-opener for Knox is next Saturday (September 12) against Carleton College.  The kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.