NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team hung with Carleton College for a half on Saturday, overcoming a spate of injuries that left the Cougars shorthanded throughout the game. The second half turned out to be another story however, with the Knights scoring five touchdowns and pulling away for a 41-7 victory over the Cougars.

The beginning of the contest could not have been scripted more perfectly for Minnesota Morris. Receiving the opening kickoff, the Cougars opened the game with a 17-play, 86-yard drive that chewed up about 12 minutes off the clock. The running game did most of the damage on the drive, with Jaden Littell, Keyton Johnson, a Izayah Boss running 16 straight times to move the ball into the Carleton red zone. Facing a fourth down, the Cougars used a timeout and then dialed up their first pass play of the game which went for a 14-yard touchdown to Johnson. The extra point from Alex Happ made it 7-0.

Carleton, coming off an 84-point outing last week against Crown College, would have the ball for just two plays in the opening quarter. The first play was a one-yard rush. The second play was a downfield ball that was completed from Jonathan Singleton to Ntense Obono, but Minnesota Morris stayed with it and Alex Emmrich forced a fumble that was recovered by Blue Kellogg to get possession back from the Knights.

The Cougar offense was forced off the field with a punt on the first play of the second quarter and Carleton's second possession ended with a short touchdown run from Aiden Chang that made it 7-7. Neither team would strike again the first half as Kellogg had a strip and a second fumble recovery to end another Knight drive.

Carleton received the second half kickoff and took the lead with a 43-yard completion from Singleton to Beau Nelson for a 14-7 lead. Later in the quarter, Singleton connected with Obono for an 11-yard touchdown that made it 21-7 heading into the fourth.

The play that might have ended any hopes of a Minnesota Morris comeback came on a punt early in the fourth quarter that was blocked and Kevin Xiong and recovered in the end zone by Xiong for the score. Though the extra point was missed, the Knights extended their lead to 27-7. As time ticked away late in the game, Carleton added onto the lead with a 36-yard touchdown from Single to Nelson and a late three-yard touchdown run from Chang for the 41-7 final. 

Littell ended the afternoon 5-of-8 for 68 yards and a touchdown through the air. He was also the leading rusher for the Cougars with 32 carries for 79 yards. Johnson had 11 carries for 42 yards to go with his touchdown reception. Bryce Dixon ended with two catches for 29 yards while Jacob Miranda had a pair of catches for 25 yards.

Hunter Infanger was the leading tackler for Minnesota Morris, finishing with 11 tackles (five solo). Emmrich had 10 tackles (four solo) to go along with his forced fumble. Carter Maurice added eight tackles (six solo). Kellogg finished with three tackles (two solo) to go along with two fumble recoveries.

Minnesota Morris is back home at Big Cat Stadium next week for its final non-conference home game of the season. The Cougars will host Lawrence University on Sept. 24 starting at 12 p.m.