JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Macalester College football team wrapped up the 2017 campaign with a 32-27 defeat at Illinois College as a part of Midwest Conference Championship Week Saturday afternoon at England Stadium. The Scots end up with a 5-5 record on the season, while the Blueboys also finish with a 5-5 record.
With Illinois College leading 7-0 following a first-quarter touchdown, Macalester pulled even early in the second quarter. Senior quarterback
Christian Adams (Alexandria, La./Pineville) hit junior receiver
Jonathan Knee (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) with a 16-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-7. The Blueboys answered by moving the ball to the Scots' 1-yard line, only to have a fumble that senior defensive back
Cash McGregor (Wasilla, Alaska/Wasilla) recovered.
Later in the second quarter, senior defensive back
Jack Schultenover (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) intercepted a pass from Drew Chance, giving Macalester the ball at the IC 45-yard line. The Scots took advantage of the turnover, eventually scoring on a 1-yard run by senior running back
Matthew Bonazzoli (Swampscott, Mass./Buckingham Browne & Nichols) for a 14-7 lead.
With just over a minute to play in the first half, the Blueboys marched down the field and capped a 62-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Chance to Kyle Obertino with 21 seconds left. A missed extra point gave the Scots a 14-13 advantage heading into halftime.
On the first possession of the second half, Macalester put together a 10-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Knee for a 21-13 lead. Looking to maintain momentum, the Scots tried an onside kick, with McGregor pouncing on the ball near midfield to give Macalester possession. But Adams was picked off by Michael Garcia on the first play of the ensuing drive. Illinois College went 61 yards on seven plays, scoring on a Shak Johnson 1-yard run to make the score 21-19.
Early in the fourth quarter, first year defensive lineman
John Newton (Highland Village, Texas/Coram Deo Academy) blocked a field goal attempt to preserve the Scots' lead. After Macalester was forced to punt, the Blueboys took the lead on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Chance to Glen Gibbons Jr. The Scots were unable to gain a first down on their next possession, and IC responded with an 8-play, 68-yard scoring drive that was punctuated by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Obertino for a 32-21 lead.
Needing a touchdown, Macalester drove 69 yards on 15 plays, with Adams connecting with junior receiver
Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka) on a 5-yard touchdown pass. Adams was 8-of-14 for 65 yards in the drive. The Scots went for two but a pass to Bonazzoli came up just short, making the score 32-27 Illinois College. The Blueboys were able to get a first down on their next possession to run out the clock.
Adams was 35-of-59 for 348 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in his final game as a Scot. He set single-season school records for passing yards (2,734), touchdown passes (20), completions (219) and pass attempts (377). Junior receiver
Jack Streibich (Whitefish, Mont./Whitefish) had his best day as a collegian, catching 13 passes for 137 yards. He ties the school record for receptions in a game.
Knee had six catches for 73 yards and two downs, while Beatty also caught six passes for 83 yards and one touchdown. Beatty broke single-season school records for receiving yards (1,035) and touchdown catches (10) while tying the school record of
Ty O'Connell '02 for career touchdown catches with 17.
Defensively, senior linebacker
Phil Wettersten (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) had nine tackles and senior defensive lineman
Liam Peebles (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) recorded eight tackles. Senior defensive back
Chance Carnahan (Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) had an interception to go with six tackles.
The loss marked the final game for Macalester's 18 seniors, who tied the program record for most victories in a four-year period with 25 wins.
