JACKSONVILLE, Illinois—The Prairie Fire football team took a 47-17 loss at Illinois College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Knox got on the board first when Preston Lade converted a 35-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. The Blueboys responded with a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead.
 
Illinois College tacked on a field goal and two more scores in the second quarter to take a 31-3 lead heading into halftime.
 
The Prairie Fire scored the only touchdown of the third quarter when Grant Graham hit Hunter Lee for a two-yard score.
 
The Blueboys found the end zone again midway through the fourth quarter to take a 38-10 lead, but Knox would respond when Graham again found Lee for a touchdown.
 
Illinois College came right back with a touchdown of their own and then pinned the Prairie Fire on their one-yard line on the ensuing kick-off. On the first play of the Knox drive, the Blueboys stuffed the run and got the safety to end the scoring.
 
Lee finished with six catches for 65 yards and the two touchdowns. Ty Straw added 66 yards rushing on 16 carries. Hunter Baquet led the Prairie Fire with 12 total tackles. Garret Rau grabbed an interception, while Jeremiah Matthews and James Dinaso each picked up a sack.
 
"It was great to see our offense score on our opening drive of the game, but our lack of consistency on both sides of the ball limited our play in the first half," said head coach Damon Tomeo. "The team came out to play in the second half and showed some fight and improved play, but the first half deficit was too great to overcome."
 
Knox will return home for the first time in over a month when they host Cornell for Homecoming on November 2.