CHICAGO, Ill. – The Macalester College football team closed out regular-season play in the Midwest Conference with a 19-14 loss at the University of Chicago Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field. The Scots (5-3) finish in a three-way tie with UChicago and Ripon for second place in the MWC North Division with identical 3-2 conference records.

The Macalester offense was unable to get on track as the Scots committed five turnovers in the game. UChicago kicked three field goals in the first half, then added a fourth early in the third quarter for a 12-0 lead. Later in the third quarter, Maroons punter Mike Kurzydlowski pinned Macalester on its own 1-yard line with a 51-yard punt. The Scots were unable to move the ball, eventually giving UChicago great field position on the Macalester 22-yard line following a short punt. The Maroons took advantage, as Chandler Carroll scored on a 25-yard run to give UChicago a 19-0 advantage.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Kurzydlowski's punt was blocked by senior linebacker Austin Dischinger (Minneapolis, Minn./De La Salle), who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown. After Macalester's defense forced a three-and-out, the offense took the ball deep into Maroons territory. Senior quarterback Christian Adams (Alexandria, La./Pineville) connected with junior receiver Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka) on a 32-yard pass in the drive. But Adams was picked off by Jeremy Vincent at the 1-yard line to keep the Scots out of the end zone.

The defense held again, and Macalester started its next drive at the UChicago 41. Senior running back Matthew Bonazzoli (Swampscott, Mass./Buckingham Browne & Nichols) had a 10-yard run and a 12-yard catch, Adams hit junior receiver Jack Streibich (Whitefish, Mont./Whitefish) for nine yards, then Beatty caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Adams to make the score 19-14.

The Scots would get another chance with the ball starting on their own 10 with 3:30 to play. Adams completed five straight passes to move the ball to the Macalester 34. Two incomplete passes and a 7-yard pass to Beatty set up fourth down and three at the 41-yard line. The drive stalled there following an incomplete pass, and the Maroons ran out the remaining 49 seconds to clinch the win.

Adams completed 27 of his 49 pass attempts for 262 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Beatty had another big day with 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. Bonazzoli caught four passes, while Streibich and junior receiver Jonathan Knee (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) each caught three passes. On defense, senior linebacker Sean Hayes (Buckley, Wash./White River) had 12 tackles, while senior linebacker Phil Wettersten (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) and junior defensive back Patrick Gruggen (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) each had 11 tackles.

To break the tie between Macalester, UChicago and Ripon, the league uses quarters led. UChicago wins the tie breaker with 12 quarters led this season, followed by Macalester and Ripon with 10 each. The Scots defeated Ripon earlier this year and thus earns the third-place spot in the North.

Macalester will play at Illinois College on Saturday, Nov. 11 as a part of Midwest Conference Championship Week. The game starts at 1:00 p.m. in Jacksonville, Ill.