ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team lost at home to St. Olaf, 29-0 in a MIAC cross-divisional game Saturday night at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium. The Scots are now 0-3 on the season, while the Oles improve to 3-0.

Things started well for Macalester, as senior linebacker Noah Bresson (Homosassa, Fla./Crystal River) picked off a deflected pass on the second play of the game to give the Scots the ball at the St. Olaf 44-yard line. The ensuing drive stalled at the Oles' 26-yard line on downs, and St. Olaf marched down the field to score the game's first touchdown on a 2-yard run by Gus Gartzke at the 9:41 mark of the first quarter. Less than four minutes later, the Oles moved the ball 60 yards on five plays, including a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Theo Doran, for a 15-0 advantage.

Over the remainder of the first half the Scots advanced the ball into St. Olaf territory but were unable to score. Later in the second quarter, Macalester stopped the Oles on the 5-yard line, and St. Olaf missed the field goal to keep the halftime score at 15-0.

Macalester received the opening kickoff after halftime and went on an incredible 21-play drive that included six first downs and nine completions by junior quarterback Jude Wallin (Wayne, PA/Radnor). On third down and six from the St. Olaf 12-yard line, Wallin connected with senior receiver Henry Clymer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) for an 11-yard gain and a first down. It appeared that Clymer had scored, but the ball was placed at the 1-yard line. This time, St. Olaf held, with the Scots coming up short on two rush attempts and two incompletions.

The long drive that ate up over 11 minutes of the third quarter, only to result in no points, swung momentum back to the visitors. The Oles went 98 yards on 13 plays, ending with a 4-yard touchdown run by Doran that put St. Olaf on top, 22-0. The Oles added another touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 29-0 advantage. The Scots didn't give up, using its final possession to drive deep into St. Olaf territory. On the game's final play, Wallin hit senior receiver Gabe Kasper (Shoreview, Minn./Irondale) for a 24-yard reception, but he was stopped at the 3-yard line to end the game.

Wallin was 23-of-39 for 166 yards and no interceptions. He also rushed 10 times for 38 yards. Senior tight end Mac Mullen (Kansas City, Mo./Pembroke Hill School), junior running back Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) and sophomore receiver Brian Maddox (Alexandria, Va./Georgetown Preparatory School) each caught four passes. Senior running back Josh Bulski (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led the running game with 69 yards on 22 carries. Defensively, Bresson led Macalester with 14 tackles and the interception. Junior linebacker Issam Rafidi (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) added eight tackles and senior defensive back Cameron Latvis (West St. Paul, Minn./Two Rivers) had seven tackles.

Doran threw for 274 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 35 yards and two touchdowns. Gartzke ran for 125 yards on 26 carries, while Devin McNearny caught seven passes for 130 yards.

Macalester travels to Duluth, Minn., for another cross-divisional game against St. Scholastica on Saturday, Oct. 5. The game starts at 1:00 p.m.