MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Noah Bresson (Homosassa, Fla./Crystal River) and Justin Potts (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) had standout days for the Macalester defense Saturday at Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field. Unfortunately, the Auggie defense was stingy all day and held the Scots in offensive check to record a 33-3 decision.
Macalester fell to 0-9 overall, 0-7 in the MIAC. They will wrap up the 2024 MIAC season next Saturday against St. Scholastica (3-6, 2-5 MIAC). It will be a rematch of a lively October 5 encounter that saw the Scots fall just short to the Saints, 30-28.
At 5-9, 187 pounds, you might not expect Bresson to stand tall at linebacker on the football field. He looked like a giant Saturday as he recorded a season (and game) high 16 tackles and forced a fumble. For the season, Bresson is the leading Macalester tackler for the season with 67.
Potts was a force to be reckoned with in the secondary all afternoon. He had a pair of interceptions, a forced fumble (that he recovered), a pass breakup and five solo tackles.
After allowing the Auggies a touchdown on the game's first drive, the Scot defense shut them down the rest of the half. Potts was helped in the secondary by Jason Weaver (Roselle Park, N.J./Pingry), who returned a second quarter thievery 42 yards to the Auggie 25. Aided by a pass interference penalty, QB Jude Wallin (Wayne, Pa./Radnor) moved the Scots to the Augsburg 8. The drive eventually ended with a missed field goal.
Augsburg responded with a lengthy drive but Potts put an end to that by forcing a fumble and recovering the ball at the Macalester 13. Unfortunately, the Auggie defense stiffened and forced a safety to make it 9-0. Neither team did much after that and it was 9-0 at intermission.
Wallin started the third quarter with a five yard rush and a completion to Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) but the Auggies forced a punt. The home team then went on a 11-play drive that ended with a field goal to make the score 12-0.
The Scots fought back. Wallin connected twice with Henry Clymer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/George Washington) and Sierra had three five-yard runs to help move the ball to the Augsburg 7. But that was far as the Scots could get, settling for a 25-yard Theo Crosby (Edina, Minn./Blake School) field goal to climb within 12-3.
Augsburg scored again to make it 19-3 after three quarters. Early in the fourth quarter, Bresson amputated an Auggie drive by forcing a fumble that first-year DB Jay Green (Roseville, Minn./Mounds Park Academy) recovered at the Mac 7.
Unfortunately, Wallin was sacked on the next play and fumbled the ball. Augsburg recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 26-3. Later, the Auggies embarked on a 83 yard scoring drive that put the game out of reach. Wallin completed 13 of 24 passes for 109 yards. Clymer was his top target with four catches and Sierra snagged three. Sierra was also the top ground gainer with 32 yards on 12 carries. In addition to Bresson, Jacob Degnan (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) also had a season high tackle effort with nine.
