Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
DE PERE, Wis. - St. Norbert College scored six touchdowns in the first half en route to a 56-20 win over Illinois College in a Midwest Conference game at Schneider Stadium.
The victory sets the Green Knights (6-2, 6-0 MWC) up for a next Saturday's game at Monmouth College (8-0, 6-0 MWC) in a battle of conference unbeatens with likely the MWC title and a NCAA Division III Playoffs berth at stake.
St. Norbert scored on its second possession, getting a 32-yard touchdown run from Elijah Fort for a 7-0 lead. The Green Knights added to their margin with a 4-yard touchdown pass from J.T. Crosby to Marty Franzkowiak for a 14-0 edge with 5:46 left in the first quarter. St. Norbert took a 21-0 lead after blocking a Blueboys' punt and needing just two plays for a 12-yard touchdown pass from Crosby to Samuel Staehling.
Crosby broke free on a fourth-and-1 play from the Illinois College 25-yard line for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the second quarter for a 28-0 lead. Illinois College scored a touchdown when Cole Peters recovered a muffed punt in the end zone with 10:25 left in the quarter, and added a 27-yard field goal by Zack DeWitt at the 7:21 mark to cut the deficit to 28-10.
St. Norbert would pull away after that, scoring two more touchdowns prior to halftime. Crosby found Zach Reeves on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 4:43 left and then hit Brett Olson for a 4-yard touchdown 38 seconds prior to the break for a 42-10 edge.
DeWitt's 20-yard field goal late in the third quarter was that period's only scoring, bringing the Blueboys to within 42-13.
Stuart Kwaterski then returned a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown - his second fumble return for a score in as many weeks - with 13:26 remaining. Illinois College's Greg Cross broke loose on a 61-yard touchdown run with 9:27 left. Brad Boockmeier's 1-yard run with 1:53 to go was the game's final scoring play.
St. Norbert outgained Illinois College 386-320 in total offense. Crosby completed 21 of 38 passes for 240 yards with four touchdowns and one interception while rushing 10 times for 61 yards and one touchdown. Fort had 65 yards rushing on 12 carries and one touchdown. Reeves caught six passes for 97 yards and one touchdown, while Brett Olson had 61 yards receiving on five catches and one touchdown.
Cross led Illinois College on the ground with 84 yards rushing on five attempts. Deavon Puck completed 24 of 52 passes for 209 yards with two interceptions.
Matt Barrett and Ryan Grandlic shared the team lead in tackles with 11 apiece.