GRINNELL, Iowa—The Prairie Fire football team defeated Grinnell 37-6 on Saturday afternoon.

Knox (1-4, 1-2 MWC) scored first when Wes Koerber (Norco, CA, Norco Senior) hit a field goal with 8:59 to play in the first quarter. The Pioneers answered with a touchdown halfway through the second quarter to take a 6-3 lead.  The point after attempt was blocked by Tyler Paul (Quincy, IL, Quincy Senior). Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) ran for a pair touchdowns in the final minutes of the first half to take a 17-6 lead into halftime. McCaffrey picked up another score in the third quarter when he ran for a 46 yard touchdown. Braeden Westfall (Rock Falls, IL, Rock Falls) added a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Kobe Shutter (Kankakee, IL, Bishop McNamara) found the endzone for the final score halfway through the fourth quarter.

McCaffrey finished with 49 yards rushing and three scores and completed 19-of-35 passes for 162 yards. Westfall netted 87 yards on the ground and a score. Malik Hamilton (Chicago, IL, Lane Tech) grabbed eight passes for 78 yards.

Evan Economos (Urbandale, IA, Urbandale) intercepted two passes for a total of 45 yards, broke up a pass, and picked up two tackles. Beau Gabel (Bourbonnais, IL, Bishop McNamara) and Issac Ruelas (Lancaster, CA, Quartz Hill) each forced a fumble and finished with five tackles. Jacob Paul (Quincy, IL, Quincy) forced a fumble and sacked the quarterback. Mario Whitley (St. Louis, MO, Ladue Horton Watkins) led the Prairie Fire with nine total tackles.

Knox returns home on October 15 to take on Illinois College during homecoming.