ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a game that saw the defenses limit the offenses to just two touchdowns, the Macalester College football team fell to visiting Martin Luther College, 10-7 in the Scots' home opener Saturday night at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium. The Scots, now 0-2, have a bye week before beginning their MIAC schedule on Sept. 28.

Both teams were able to move the ball, with the Knights holding a slight edge in total offense over Macalester, 279-255. But points were hard to come by, with turnovers and timely penalties also playing a role in the three-score game.

Late in the first quarter, Martin Luther threatened first, driving the ball to the Macalester 6-yard line. But on 3rd-and-goal from the 6, senior defensive back Justin Potts (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) intercepted Knights' quarterback Brady Turriff in the end zone. Two plays later, Martin Luther's Thomas Balge picked off a pass by sophomore quarterback Kellen Sedlmayer (San Marcos, Calif./Santa Fe Christian) at the 16-yard line. Incredibly, on Martin Luther's first play, Turriff threw an interception to junior defensive back Jacob Degnan (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School), the third pick in four consecutive plays.

Late in the second quarter, another interception gave the Knights the ball at the Macalester 23-yard line with 1:45 left in the half. The Scots stopped Martin Luther at the 4-yard line and a field goal was made, but a Macalester penalty gave the Knights a first down at the 2-yard line. Again the Scots' defense held, and Martin Luther settled for a Micah Koschnitzke field goal as the half ended.

In the third quarter, both teams came up empty on their first two possessions. A short punt by the Knights from their own 13, coupled with a 14-yard return from sophomore defensive back Boaz Lieberman (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) gave Macalester the ball at the MLC 29-yard line. After an apparent completion at the 1-yard line was called back for offensive pass interference, junior running back Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) rushed for 11 yards, then Sedlmayer connected with senior receiver Gabe Kasper (Shoreview, Minn./Irondale) for a 33-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown came on the longest play from scrimmage for the game for Macalester.

The Scots held the lead into the fourth quarter until Turriff threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Raasch that made the score 10-7 Knights with 10:20 remaining. After the defense stopped Martin Luther on 4th down at the Macalester 21, the Scots moved the ball into Knights territory before stalling at the Martin Luther 31-yard line with under two minutes to play. Another defensive stand gave Macalester one more chance with under a minute, but four incomplete passes ended the game in the Knights' favor.

Sedlmayer was 18-of-35 for 148 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Senior running back Josh Bulski (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) ran for 75 yards on 20 carries, while Sierra gained 41 yards on 11 carries. Kasper caught three passes for 65 yards and a score, Bulski had four catches for 28 yards and senior receiver Henry Clymer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) had five catches for 27 yards. Senior linebacker Noah Bresson (Homosassa, Fla./Crystal River) led the defense with 10 tackles, with senior linebacker Gabe Gallardo (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) making eight tackles. Potts had a solid game with an interception and two pass breakups.

Turriff finished with 217 yards passing, while Thomas Koelpin had three receptions for 90 yards. Rees Rocker was limited to 50 rushing yards on 20 attempts, as the Scots' defense allowed 62 total rushing yards for the game.

After the bye week, Macalester hosts St. Olaf College on Saturday, Sept. 28 as a part of Mac Fest. The game, which follows a soccer doubleheader, begins at 7:00 p.m. at Macalester Stadium.