GRINNELL, Iowa – The Macalester College football team came off of its bye week and delivered a dominating performance at Grinnell, winning 42-3 Saturday afternoon at Rosenbloom Field. The win is the first of the season for the Scots (1-2), while the Pioneers fall to 0-3.

Macalester scored touchdowns on each of its first five possessions while holding Grinnell scoreless until late in the fourth quarter.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Scots drove 65 yards in 11 plays on their opening drive, which was capped by a 29-yard touchdown pass from first year Michael Nadeau (Garden Grove, Calif./La Quinta) to sophomore receiver Rex Desso (Evergreen, Colo./Lakewood). Macalester stopped Grinnell on its first possession, taking over on downs at the Macalester 42-yard line. Again the Scots scored, driving 58 yards on seven plays to lead 14-0. Sophomore running back Kai Akimoto (Tamuning, Guam/Father Duenas Memorial School) ran the ball in from the 17-yard line for the touchdown.

The Scots received good field position on its next possession after forcing the Pioneers to punt from their own 15-yard line. With the ball on the Grinnell 45, senior quarterback Johnny Bice (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) hit junior receiver Brody Fuller (Groveland, Mass./St. Mark's School) with a touchdown pass as time ended in the first quarter.

The defense stepped up again, forcing a fumble on the Pioneers' third possession to give the Scots the ball at the Grinnell 30-yard line. Junior running back Randy Beidelschies (Ava Maria, Fla./Rhodora J. Donohue Academy) ran three times for 25 yards, and Nadeau ran it in from the 5-yard line for a 28-0 lead. A bad snap on a Pioneers' punt attempt put the ball on the Grinnell 28 for the Scots, who found the end zone in three plays, culminating in an 8-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Grady Munro (Calgary, Canada/Springbank Academy) to senior tight end Brendon Hodges (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Barat Academy).

Near the end of the first half, it looked like Grinnell was going to break through, moving the ball to the Macalester 5-yard line. But junior linebacker Jack Levin (Encino, Calif./Grover Cleveland) sacked quarterback Avery Hootstein for a 10-yard loss, and two incomplete passes turned the ball over on downs.

The first drive of the second half also looked promising for the Pioneers, who drove to the Scots' 8-yard line. After a holding penalty and a 4-yard run by Hootstein, junior linebacker Sam Jakshtis (Hardwick, Mass./Worcester Academy) intercepted a Hootstein pass at the 14 for Jakshtis' second pick of the season. Senior defensive back Dean Smith (Carpinteria, Calif./Cate School) also tallied his second interception of the year, picking off Hootstein in Macalester territory. After the Scots were forced to punt from their own 47, sophomore linebacker Brady Thompson (New Brighton, Minn./De La Salle) forced a fumble on the return that gave Macalester the ball at the Grinnell 24. Three plays later, Nadeau connected with sophomore receiver Peter Vitalis (Shafer, Minn./Chisago Lakes) for an 18-yard touchdown and a 42-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Grinnell drove to the Macalester 18-yard line and kicked a 33-yard field goal for the Pioneers' only points of the game.

Four Scots' quarterbacks combined to complete 11-of-13 for 187 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Munro was 4-of-5 for 65 yards and a touchdown, Bice completed all three of his attempts for 63 yards and a score, and Nadeau was 4-of-4 for 59 yards and two touchdowns. First year Ryan Dodds (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee) also saw action as the Scots' signal caller. Seven different receivers caught passes, with Vitalis, Desso, Hodges and senior Reese Bresson (Homosassel, Fla./Crystal River) catching two passes each. Beidelshies rushed seven times for 36 yards. Defensively, Thompson and senior defensive back Mason Cohn (Charlotte, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) each tallied a team-best seven tackles.

Grinnell's Daniel Carter ran for 138 yards on 31 carries.

Macalester returns home to host Cornell College on Saturday, Oct. 5, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Macalester Stadium.