Justin Harris
Aidan McMurtrie
Justin Harris led the team with nine tackles and forced a fumble.
0
Knox KNO 2-7 , 2-6
69
Winner Monmouth (IL) MON 9-1 , 9-0
Knox KNO
2-7 , 2-6
0
Final
69
Monmouth (IL) MON
9-1 , 9-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
KNO Knox 0 0 0 0 0
MON Monmouth (IL) 35 7 14 13 69

Game Recap: Football |

Season Ends with Loss in Turkey Bowl

Monmouth finished off an undefeated conference season by defeating the Prairie Fire

MONMOUTH, Ill. ­— The Knox College football team was unable to make much headway with rival Monmouth College in the annual Turkey Bowl as the host Fighting Scots, receiving votes in the national Division III polls, handed the Prairie Fire a 69-0 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Zorn Memorial Stadium. As the Midwest Conference champion, Monmouth (9-1, 9-0 MWC) will now await to find out who it will be paired up against in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, while Knox ends its season at 2-7 overall and 2-6 in the league.

Monmouth received the opening kick and returned it past midfield, and two plays later scored on a 43-yard touchdown toss from Brayden Deem to Jeremiah Williams. Before the first quarter had ended, Nate Wrublik had run for three more touchdowns and Deem connected on another scoring strike, this time to Lucas Kessinger from 14 yards out for a 35-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Knox defense dug in and twice forced turnovers on downs without allowing a first down, then junior Ethan Strutzel recovered a fumble forced by first-year Justin Harris. But with the offense having trouble moving the ball (97 total yards in the game), Monmouth got another shot before the half ended and Deem scored on a 7-yard keeper.

Knox got the ball to start the second half, but a fumble led to a scoop and score for the Fighting Scots' Ethan James. Monmouth added three more touchdowns, ending the game with its most points scored in the third-most often played series in Division III dating back to 1888.

  • Junior running back Izayiah Hawes had the most success of any Knox offensive player, rushing for 60 yards on 14 carries (4.3-yard average), including a 27-yard run.
  • Senior quarterback Reese Miller had a rough day throwing the ball, connecting on just 2-of-13 throws for 7 yards, but he did produce the Prairie Fire's longest play from scrimmage with a 33-yard keeper.
  • Harris led the Knox defense with nine tackles.
  • Deem ended the day 8-of-14 for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Angel Duarte galloped for 108 yards on just eight carries with one touchdown.
  • Monmouth has won the past 26 meetings and owns a 75-52-10 advantage in the series. The last Knox win over the Fighting Scots was a 28-20 triumph in 1998.
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