ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three second-half touchdowns broke open a close game and gave the Macalester College football team a season-opening victory over University of Minnesota Morris Saturday night at Macalester Stadium. The win marks the third straight year the Scots have started the season with a victory over the Cougars.

After forcing Minn. Morris to punt on the first possession of the game, Macalester drove the ball 80 yards on 10 plays, culminating in a 1-yard run by senior quarterback Michael Nadeau (Garden Grove, Calif./La Quinta) for a 7-0 lead. Looking to respond, the Cougars took the ball down to the Scots' 8-yard line, but junior Riley Cogan (Loveland, Colo./Mountain View) forced a fumble and junior Xavier Pittman (Spring, Texas/Spring) recovered it. On Macalester's ensuing play, Nadeau was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Minn. Morris took its first lead of the game on a 63-yard touchdown run by Izayah Boss that made the score 9-7 late in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Macalester regained the lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Michael Poker (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), capping a 76-yard drive. The Cougars answered with a touchdown drive of their own, with Boss scoring from two yards out to lead, 16-14. Again the Scots responded, this time with their deep passing game. Nadeau hit senior receiver Nick Bice (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) with a 55-yard touchdown pass to regain the lead, 22-16. Just before the end of the half, quarterback Marcus Reeb completed a 31-yard drive that was set up by an interception with a 1-yard plunge to give Minn. Morris a 23-22 halftime lead.

On Macalester's second drive of the third quarter, Nadeau found senior receiver Nathan Wu (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The duo connected again for the two-point conversion, putting the Scots on top, 30-23. After forcing the Cougars to punt, Macalester scored again less than two minutes after its previous touchdown, as Nadeau threw a 37-yard pass to senior running back Logan Pampel (Johnson Creek, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran School) for a 36-23 lead. The Scots took the ball on their first drive in the fourth quarter and went 63 yards on 10 plays, with Nadeau connecting with Bice for a 20-yard touchdown and a commanding 44-23 lead. The Cougars were able to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard run by Blake Johnson, but it was not enough to prevent Macalester from starting the season with a win.

Nadeau was 31-of-47 for 398 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Bice caught seven passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns, Poker had nine receptions for 64 yards, and Wu caught eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Pampel had a solid all-around game with 81 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving. The Scots' offense finished with 497 yards of total offense.

The defense stepped up in the second half, limiting the Cougars to 138 yards of total offense and one late touchdown. Junior defensive back Cameron Latvis (West St. Paul, Minn./Two Rivers) led Macalester with eight tackles and a pass breakup. Pittman also had a strong game, with seven tackles and four tackles for loss while forcing two fumbles. Junior defensive back Justin Potts (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) tallied four tackles and five pass breakups.

Macalester will play at Martin Luther College on Saturday, Sept. 9 in a non-conference game. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. in New Ulm, Minn.