ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team lost to Hamline University, 21-7 in the annual Paint Bucket Game Saturday night at Klas Field. The Scots are now 1-1 on the season as they begin Midwest Conference play next Saturday at Illinois College. The Pipers, who have won the past three Paint Bucket games with Macalester, are 2-0.

After a scoreless first quarter, Hamline capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Justice Spriggs to Deon Bishop for a 7-0 lead. A Scots' fumble on their own one yard line led to a Josiah Harris touchdown run with 4:43 left in the half. An interception on Macalester's next possession gave the Pipers the ball at midfield. This time the turnover did not result in points, as first year defensive back Kiante Miles (Yukon, Okla./Mustang) picked off Spriggs at the 10 yard line.

After punting four times in the first half, the Scots' offense stalled again on their first two possessions of the second half. Harris ran 42 yards for a touchdown following Macalester's second punt of the half, and the Pipers took a commanding 21-0 lead.

With just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Hamline fumbled on its own 24 yard line, giving the Scots a short field. An 18-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Cody Petrich (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) to sophomore receiver Jonathan Knee (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) put the ball at the six yard line. Sophomore running back Jeremy Stephan (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) ran it in from there to put Macalester on the scoreboard.

The Scots put together an impressive drive after Hamline punted to the Macalester three yard line. Petrich threw a 20-yard pass to junior running back Jacob Jones (Hanceville, Ala./Holly Pond) and a 38-yard pass to sophomore receiver Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka). But the drive stalled at the two yard line, as the Scots turned the ball over on downs.

Junior quarterback Christian Adams (Alexandria, La./Pineville) started and was 13-for-26 for 153 yards, while Petrich was 7-for-13 for 108 yards. Beatty caught five passes for 71 yards, and junior running back Matthew Bonazzoli (Swampscott, Mass/Browne & Nichols) ran five times for 38 yards. Miles and junior defensive back Cash McGregor (Wasilla, Alaska/Wasilla) led the Scot defense with nine tackles apiece. Senior defensive lineman Nick Egersdorf (Rochester, Minn./Mayo) and junior linebacker Brett Graham (Celebration, Fla./Celebration) each had sacks.

Spriggs threw for 238 yards, and Bishop caught six passes for 95 yards.

Macalester opens Midwest Conference action on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Illinois College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in Jacksonville, Ill.