ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team wrapped up the 2015 campaign with a defeat to visiting Cornell College, 25-22 Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The Scots end the season with a record of 4-6 overall, while the Rams improve to 5-5.

The game did not start well for Macalester, as the Scots were forced to punt on their first possession. A bad snap on the punt gave the ball to Cornell at the Macalester 13 yard line, but the defense held, and a missed field goal kept the game scoreless. On the Scots' next drive, an interception on the first play by Kenny Smith resulted in another short field for the Rams. This time Cornell took advantage, eventually scoring on a one-yard run by quarterback Daniel Brown for a 7-0 lead.

Macalester turned the ball over on each of their next two possessions, but again the defense kept the Rams from extending their lead. Senior defensive tackle Zach Hauser (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington) blocked a field goal attempt from 34 yards out. After another failed drive, the Scots had a punt blocked, putting Cornell on the 12. The defense held again, as the Rams did not get a first down and turned the ball over on downs.

The Scots' best chance to score in the first half came on their final drive of the half, taking the ball 60 yards to the Cornell 11. But the drive stalled, and a missed field goal right before halftime kept the score 7-0 Rams at the break.

On Macalester's first possession of the second half, first year quarterback Cody Petrich (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) hit senior tight end Joe Walker (Clear Lake, Minn./St. Cloud Tech) for a 32-yard gain to the Cornell 11. Hauser was inserted into the backfield and blasted in for a two-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, making the score 7-6.

Following a 26-yard field goal by Cornell's Kaleb Whiting, first year running back Jeremy Stephan (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) broke off a 52-yard run to the five yard line. First year Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka) ran it in from there to put the Scots on top, 13-10. After the defense forced a three-and-out, junior kicker Ben Haltmaier (Short Hills, N.J./The Pingry School) made a career-long 41-yard field goal for a 16-10 lead.

Cornell answered on its next possession, driving 68 yards on seven plays, with Wolfgang Strover ending the drive with a one-yard scoring run to put the Rams ahead, 17-16. On the first play of the Scots' next possession, another interception gave the Rams the ball on the Mac 38. But junior defensive back Trey Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi) picked off Brown and ran it back 85 yards for a Scots' touchdown and a 22-17 lead.

Cornell's next possession also ended in an interception, as a pick by sophomore defensive back Chance Carnahan (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) at the two yard line gave the Scots their fourth interception of the game. Macalester only gained four yards in three plays, and a short punt gave the Rams the ball at the Scots' 18 yard line. Brown ended up scoring on a nine-yard run, and a two-point conversion put Cornell ahead, 25-22 with nine minutes remaining.

Late in the fourth quarter, senior linebacker Fabian Arrizon (Hayward, Calif./Mount Eden) recovered a fumble at the Mac 47 yard line, giving the Scots one last possession. Macalester moved the ball to the 35, but an incomplete pass at 4th and 3 with a minute left ended the drive, and the Rams ran out the clock to close out the win.

Senior running back Zandy Stowell (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls) rushed for 90 yards on 22 carries in his final game as a Scot. He finishes with 959 yards on the season and 2,679 yards for his standout career. Stephan had 80 yards on five carries, while senior receiver Victor Bordo (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Twp.) had three catches for 29 yards. Along with his touchdown run, Hauser recorded four solo tackles and a sack in his last collegiate game. Sophomore linebacker Elliot Tanin (Middleton, Wis./Middleton) led the defense with 10 tackles and an interception, while sophomore defensive back Jack Schultenover (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) had an interception and three pass breakups.

Arrizon, Hauser, Stowell, Bordo and Walker were among 15 seniors playing in their final game as a Scot. The class won 23 games in four years, which ranks second all-time at Macalester.