MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Macalester College football team lost a non-conference game to Monmouth College on the road, 37-0 Saturday afternoon at Zorn Stadium. The defeat is the first of the first of the season for the Scots, who are now 2-1 overall. Monmouth, the defending Midwest Conference champions from the South Division, improves to 2-1 with the win.

Monmouth found the end zone on each of its first two drives of the game, including a 7-play, 77-yard drive on their first possession that ended with an 8-yard touchdown run by DeAndre Wright. After forcing a Macalester punt, Monmouth made it 14-0 with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Nelson to Yansay Williams.

The Scots moved the ball to the Monmouth 15-yard line but turned the ball over on downs when a fourth-and-6 play came up short. In the second quarter, Macalester moved the ball into Monmouth territory twice but lost the ball on downs both times. Monmouth extended its lead to 21-0 with another Nelson-to-Williams pass from eight yards out with six minutes left in the half.

The third quarter proved to be a difficult one for the Macalester offense, as Monmouth held the Scots to just 28 yards of total offense. Wright rushed for a 23-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, then Monmouth registered a safety on the next possession to make the score 30-0.

First year defensive back Maxx Malone (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) intercepted a Nelson pass at the Macalester 7-yard line late in the third quarter, but the Scots were forced to punt from deep in its own territory. Monmouth took advantage of the short field, with Wright finishing the 30-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, his third of the game. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, as Monmouth closed out the 37-0 win.

Macalester finished with 263 yards of total offense compared to 405 for Monmouth. Senior quarterback Cody Petrich (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) completed 17-of-32 for 193 yards and an interception. Senior receiver Jonathan Knee (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) caught six passes for 92 yards, and senior receiver Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka) had five receptions for 67 yards. Senior running back Jeremy Stephan (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) was held to 24 yards rushing on 10 attempts.

Juniors Kiante Miles (Yukon, Okla./Mustang) and Josh Bartz (Omaha, Neb./Brownell-Talbot) led the defense with eight tackles apiece. Senior linebacker Patrick Haley (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest) and sophomore linebacker Sam Jakshtis (Hardwick, Mass./Worcester Academy) each added six tackles.

Macalester returns home to play another South Division opponent in Lake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Macalester Stadium.