JACKSONVILLE, Ill. ­— An overcast afternoon turned into stormy one in more ways than one for the Knox College football team as the Prairie Fire suffered a 64-14 defeat at Illinois College on Saturday at England Stadium. The Blueboys (4-2, 3-2 Midwest Conference) amassed 539 yards — 372 on the ground — while limiting Knox (2-4, 2-3 MWC) to 149 yards before the game ended with 5:44 to play due to lightning.

The Prairie Fire defense kept Illinois College off the scoreboard on its first possession as 29-yard field goal attempt missed the mark. But the next time the Blueboys got their hands on the ball, dangerous return man Timo Kato returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Illinois College added a 21-yard field goal and a 40-yard touchdown pass after intercepting a pass before Knox responded. The big play of the eight-play, 71-yard drive was a fake punt that turned into a 36-yard gain on a pass from sophomore punter Fernando Torres to senior Kierre Turner. Quarterback Reese Miller then connected with sophomore Chase Lucas on the very next play for a 15-yard touchdown toss, and Torres added the extra point to close the gap to nine points.

But the Prairie Fire could not slow the Blueboy offense. Illinois College tacked on a touchdown before the half ended, then started the third quarter with four more trips to the end zone, twice on runs of at least 50 yards. Knox added to its total with three minutes still to go in the third quarter when junior Izayiah Hawes ran around the right side to dive into the end zone on a 6-yard scamper.

A 1-yard Blueboy touchdown run, followed by a 50-yard score apparently angered the football gods as lightning delayed the game before Illinois College could attempt its extra point. After 20 minutes, with an ominous forecast looming, the was shut down.

• Lucas' touchdown catch was the first of his career; he scored his first career touchdown of any kind in the win at Beloit.
• Miller had a rough day behind center, completing 3-of-17 passes for 21 yards with a touchdown and two picks.
• First-year Jahprece Joseph led the Knox defense with seven tackles, one going for a loss.
• Despite the nearly 400 yards on the ground, Illinois College did not have a player rush for 100 yards, although it did have three with at least 80.
• The Blueboys have won the last six meetings and 17 of the last 18.

Knox has won eight straight games against its next opponent, Lawrence University (0-6, 0-5 MWC), but to extend that streak to nine, the Prairie Fire will have to do it on the road, as it did in a 35-34 win last year. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. next Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Banta Bowl and will be streamed live with live stats also available through the official website of Knox College Athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu, courtesy of Lawrence University.