Information courtesy of Adam Hussman/MLC SID
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
UMM 30, MLC 27
NEW ULM – The Martin Luther College football team hosted the Minnesota-Morris Cougars for Senior Day on Saturday afternoon and the Knights looked poised to win in their final home game of the season.
However, the Knights had a second-and-8 at the Cougars’ 8-yard line with a chance to extend their lead to 27-23 with a field goal or touchdown, but were unable to do so when Cougars quarterback Gregory Ohma fumbled. Max Nordlie missed and took it 92 yards to the house for a 30-27 UMM win.
MLC had one last chance to regain the lead, but the Cougars’ secondary closed in and drove through midfield.
The Knights started things off with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Andrew Raasch’s 40-yard touchdown catch and Nordlie’s rushing score near the goal line. Minnesota-Morris started the game with touchdowns to make it 14-13 with 11:18 left in the second quarter.
MLC capitalized on another hit by Nordlie (21-13), but Minnesota-Morris scored 10 unanswered points and converted a field goal to give itself a 23-21 advantage at halftime.
The Knights opened the second half with a strong attack from the defense as they forced the Cougars into turnovers. That defense brought power to the offense, as Rees Roecker gave up his long run (51 yards) and turned the tide in the Knights’ favor. MLC managed to chew up the clock and come away with another point off a Micah Koschnitzke field goal.
Both teams would have few possessions in the second half and late turnovers proved costly for the Knights.
Roecker led MLC’s running backs with 95 yards on 13 rushing attempts and carried over another week when Carson Oestreich’s carries were limited due to injury.
Nordlie finished the game with 187 yards and three touchdowns (two rushing), while Mason Cox led the Knights receiving corps with seven receptions for 71 yards.
The MLC defense continued to show improvement on this side of the ball and contained three of the Cougars’ heads and did not concede “great playing.”
Thomas Balge led the team in tackles (17), while Joey Ehlke flew in the field to record 10 tackles.
The win for the Cougars puts them at 4-0 to start the conference, while MLC now goes to (2-7, 2-3) and will travel to Mayville, ND, for a road game at Mayville State on Saturday, November 11, at 1 p.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Northland 3, MLC 0
ASHLAND, Wis. – The Martin Luther College volleyball team was swept 3-0 on the road by the Northland Lumberjills on Saturday.
Northland opened the match with a 25-15 lead in the first set and then a 25-16 lead in the second set, before ending the match with a competitive 28-26 advantage in the third set.
MLC had 36 kills, 17 errors, on 132 attempts and a .144 hitting percentage in the loss, but freshman Ella Walz finished her freshman season with another impressive performance as a setter, dishing out 21 assists to lead the Knights.
Grace Kieselhorst had a double-double for MLC and finished with 11 kills and 12 assists, while Naomi Bridgemen led the Knights defensively at the libero position with 13 digs.
MLC (8-18, 6-8) clinched their UMAC Tournament championship last night with a loss to Northland. Although the Lumberjills split the series with the Knights, Northland will finish tied for fifth with Bethany.
The Knights (No. 4 seed) are now set to face the (No. 1 seed) Northwestern Eagles for the third time this season, with the Eagles coming off two wins. The game will take place on Wednesday, November 8.