Jonathan Sarich (56) and Kolton Krutsinger (51)
Aidan McMurtrie
Jonathan Sarich (56) and Kolton Krutsinger (51) led the Prairie Fire defensive effort.
14
Knox KNO 2-6 , 1-6
44
Winner Cornell College COR 4-4 , 4-3
Knox KNO
2-6 , 1-6
14
Final
44
Cornell College COR
4-4 , 4-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
KNO Knox 0 7 0 7 14
COR Cornell College 7 23 7 7 44

Game Recap: Football |

Prairie Fire Doused in Defeat at Cornell College

The Rams outgained Knox by just over 200 yards

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa ­— The Knox College football team was unable to slow host Cornell College at Van Metre Field at Ash Park on Saturday afternoon as the Rams handed the Prairie Fire a 44-14 defeat. John Smith passed for 271 yards and three touchdowns to lead Cornell (4-4, 4-3 Midwest Conference) while the Prairie Fire (2-6, 2-5 MWC) lost for the sixth straight game.

The Ram lead was just 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, but Cornell built up its advantage up to 30-7 at the intermission. The lone Knox score came on a two-yard plunge into the end zone by sophomore fullback Taylor McAdams, who also had a 34-yard run during the 8-play, 76-yard drive.

Any momentum the Prairie Fire might have had at that point quickly ended when the Rams returned the ensuing kickoff just past midfield, and Smith threw a 49-yard touchdown on the very next play. Cornell tacked on another touchdown and a 34-yard field goal in the final 75 seconds of the half to enjoy a 23-point lead at the break.

The Rams also got the ball to start the second half and took advantage of the opportunity, marching 56 yards to the end zone in seven plays. An 18-yard scoring strike early in the fourth quarter made it a 44-7 game, though Knox scored its second and final touchdown on a 2-yard run by first-year quarterback Clay McClelland with 47 seconds to go.

  • Cornell amassed 485 yards on the afternoon compared to 280 for the Prairie Fire.
  • Sophomore Will Vines got the start at quarterback, and he completed 9-of-16 passes for 118 yards, the most by a Knox player this fall.
  • McAdams finished the game with a team-high 59 rushing yards on just eight carries with his one touchdown.
  • Fifth-years Kolton Krutsinger and Jonathan Sarich led the defense with seven tackles apiece, with the former dropping two Rams behind the line of scrimmage, one being a sack.

The Prairie Fire have their final road test next weekend when they play at Lawrence University (1-7, 1-6 MWC). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday with live video available through PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official athletics website of Knox College.

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